The Association Between Perceived Stress with Sleep Quality and Insomnia in Hemodialysis Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: Hemodialysis patients are more vulnerable to significant psychological distress and sleep problems of outbreaks of infectious diseases and novel COVID-19. In this study, we evaluated the association between perceived stress scale with Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and insomnia severity index in hemodialysis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Fifty-three hemodialysis patients were included in this cross-sectional study. Survey of "perceived stress scale," "Pittsburgh sleep quality index," and "insomnia severity index" was performed. The association between perceived stress scale with Pittsburgh sleep quality index and insomnia severity index in hemodialysis patients during COVID-19 pandemic investigated.

Results: Mean age of patients was 64.7 ± 12.8 years, and 28 (52.8%) of the patients were men. Sixteen (30.2%) of the patients had high perceived stress scale, 31 (58.5%) patients had poor sleep quality, and 29 (57.0%) of patients had mild to moderate insomnia. Perceived stress scale was positively correlated with Pittsburgh sleep quality index and insomnia severity index score. The high perceived stress scale score was an independent predictor of high insomnia severity index score.

Conclusion: Perceived stress was correlated with poor sleep quality and insomnia, and also, perceived stress was an independent predictor of insomnia in hemodialysis patients during lockdown of COVID-19. Early diagnosis of sleep disturbances is essential to improve the quality of life.

Cite this article as: Barutçu Ataş D, Aydın Sünbül E, Kantarcı G. The association between perceived stress with sleep quality and insomnia in hemodialysis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Turk J Nephrol. 2022;31(1):43-48.