Background: Recent data suggest that sleep disorders may be common in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and patients with pre-dialytic chronic kidney disease (CKD). The prevalence of sleep disorders in CKD, its association to kidney function and related factors is still unclear. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of sleep disorders in patients with recent diagnosis of CKD and to assess the relation with indices of kidney function, PTH, anemia, blood pressure status, antihypertensive drug(s) and other comorbidities.
Methods: A standardized questionnaire, Sleep Disorders Questionnaire (SDQ) was administered to 124 patients within 4 weeks of first diagnosis of CKD. Blood samples were analyzed to assess kidney function and related variables. Charlson Comorbidity Index was used to index the number of associated diseases.
Results: Of these patients 89.5% reported some sleep disorders (subclinical or insomnia). Prevalence of sleep disorders was not associated with age, creatinine plasma concentration, urea, predicted creatinine clearance, uric acid, PTH, blood pressure status, use of antihypertensive drugs, anemia, and comorbidities. Poor sleep is highly prevalent in early CKD patients. Prevalence of sleep disorders in CKD was not associated with factors considered responsible for sleep disorders in maintenance hemodialysis.
Conclusions: The data are in good keeping with findings in narrative studies in ESRD pointing out that the time of diagnosis is a crucial and disrupting moment in the life of patients since they are made aware of significant future personal changes due to a chronic illness.