Relationship between sleep quality and functionality in head and neck cancer survivors

Abstract

Introduction: Head-and-neck cancer (HNC) diagnosis and treatment has improved significantly in the last years. So, a growing interest in improving the problems these patients have to face to at long-term is increasing. Sleep disorders are prevalent in this population due, between other causes, to the associated effects of the radiotherapy treatment (RT). These sleep disorders could be associated to a decrease in functionality and quality of life.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between sleep quality, functionality and quality of life in HNC survivors one year after RT.

Methods: An observational prospective study was carried out. Patients were recruited from the Oncology Service to the Hospital Universitario San Cecilio (Granada, Spain). Outcomes included were sleep quality, assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); functionality, evaluated with the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) and quality of life, assessed with the Euroqol-5dimensions (EQ-5D).

Results: A total of 30 HNC patients were included in our study. Sleep quality showed a significant relationship with all EQ-5D subscales: mobility (r=0.547), self-care (r=0.263), daily activity (r=0.439), pain (r=0.634), anxiety and depression (r=0.692) and visual analogue scale (r=-0.591). PSIQ scores were also related to WHODAS 2.0 score, with a worse functionality in patients with worse sleep quality (r=0.616).

Conclusion: Our findings showed that sleep quality is related to functionality and quality of life in HNC survivors one year after the radiation therapy. Patients with a poorer sleep quality presented a worse functionality and quality of life.