Sleep during hospitalization and recovery after cardiac surgery.

Sleep disturbance is common in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and has been recognized for more than 30 years. Research findings suggest that sleep disturbance is a multifactorial process that has many correlates in these patients and persists from the presurgical period throughout recovery. A growing body of literature suggests the importance of sleep for function and well-being of these patients. The research literature is synthesized and implications for future research and practice are discussed.