Disturbed sleep, fatigue, anxiety and depression in myocardial infarction patients
Received 17 April 2009; received in revised form 4 November 2009; accepted 15 December 2009. published online 14 January 2010. Corrected Proof
Abstract
Background
Disturbed sleep has been linked to increased morbidity, mortality and depression and worsened health-related quality of life in patients with chronic illness. Few studies of readjustment after coronary artery disease have explicitly focused on sleep disturbance.
Aim
To explore associations between disturbed sleep, fatigue, anxiety and depression, and to assess to what extent fatigue four months post-MI could be explained.
Method
The sample included 204 consecutive patients, ≤80years of age who answered questionnaires about disturbed sleep, fatigue, anxiety and depression four months after MI.
Results
The variables anxiety, depression and disturbed sleep were all associated with fatigue. The regression model accounted for 46% of the variance in fatigue with depression and disturbed sleep as predictors. Infarct size measured by conventional biochemical markers, left ventricle ejection fraction and history of previous MI were not correlated with disturbed sleep, fatigue, anxiety or depression.
Conclusions
From knowledge about associations between disturbed sleep, fatigue, anxiety and depression after MI, cardiac nurses could be trained to observe such symptoms. Optimal care for sleep disturbance may include actions to reduce anxiety and depression as well as self-care advices about sleep hygiene in order to improve sleep quality and reduce fatigue.
cDepartment of Social and Behavioural Studies, University West, Sweden
dDepartment of Nursing, Health and Culture, University West, Sweden
eInstitute of Health and Care Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Corresponding author. Institute of Health and Care Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Box 457, SE 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. Tel.: +46 31 7866104.
ABSTRACT
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