Eric S Zhou1,2, Karen Clark3, Christopher J Recklitis4,5, Richard Obenchain3, Matthew Loscalzo3. 1. Perini Family Survivors' Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. eric_zhou@dfci.harvard.edu. 2. Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. eric_zhou@dfci.harvard.edu. 3. Supportive Care Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA. 4. Perini Family Survivors' Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. 5. Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Cancer patients are likely to experience sleep problems. Understanding their perception of sleep problems is important as subjective symptom experience is associated with treatment-seeking behavior. We explored the prevalence of sleep problems and its correlates in a large sample of cancer patients at an important but understudied stage of their cancer journey: prior to initiating treatment. METHODS: Cancer patients (5702) (67.5% female; 76.9% White; 23.0% Hispanic), following diagnosis and prior to initiating cancer treatment, completed an electronic screening instrument. Patients across eight different cancer diagnoses (breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, head and neck, hematological, lung, prostate, urinary) rated their sleep problems on a five-point scale, with those reporting "severe" or "very severe" sleep problems classified as having high sleep problems. RESULTS: Overall, 12.5% of patients reported high sleep problems. Across diagnoses, the proportion of patients reporting high sleep problems ranged from 4.3 to 13.8%, with prostate cancer patients least likely and gastrointestinal cancer patients most likely to report high sleep problems. Older age, having a partner, higher education, and higher household income were associated with a lower likelihood of experiencing sleep problems. Being female, Black, Hispanic, and reporting anxiety or depression was associated with an increased likelihood of sleep problems. CONCLUSIONS: A sizeable proportion of cancer patients experience significant problems with their sleep before any treatment has occurred. This clinical issue cannot be ignored as treatment is likely to worsen existing sleep problems. Oncology providers should routinely screen for sleep-related problems. Identifying and treating patients for sleep problems during a vulnerable period early in their cancer trajectory should be an essential component of clinical care.
PURPOSE:Cancerpatients are likely to experience sleep problems. Understanding their perception of sleep problems is important as subjective symptom experience is associated with treatment-seeking behavior. We explored the prevalence of sleep problems and its correlates in a large sample of cancerpatients at an important but understudied stage of their cancer journey: prior to initiating treatment. METHODS:Cancerpatients (5702) (67.5% female; 76.9% White; 23.0% Hispanic), following diagnosis and prior to initiating cancer treatment, completed an electronic screening instrument. Patients across eight different cancer diagnoses (breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, head and neck, hematological, lung, prostate, urinary) rated their sleep problems on a five-point scale, with those reporting "severe" or "very severe" sleep problems classified as having high sleep problems. RESULTS: Overall, 12.5% of patients reported high sleep problems. Across diagnoses, the proportion of patients reporting high sleep problems ranged from 4.3 to 13.8%, with prostate cancerpatients least likely and gastrointestinal cancerpatients most likely to report high sleep problems. Older age, having a partner, higher education, and higher household income were associated with a lower likelihood of experiencing sleep problems. Being female, Black, Hispanic, and reporting anxiety or depression was associated with an increased likelihood of sleep problems. CONCLUSIONS: A sizeable proportion of cancerpatients experience significant problems with their sleep before any treatment has occurred. This clinical issue cannot be ignored as treatment is likely to worsen existing sleep problems. Oncology providers should routinely screen for sleep-related problems. Identifying and treating patients for sleep problems during a vulnerable period early in their cancer trajectory should be an essential component of clinical care.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer patient; Oncology; Sleep disturbances; Sleep dysfunction; Sleep problems
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