Self-reported sleep disturbances and its determinants in people 1 year or more after stroke: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: Survivors of stroke commonly report sleep disturbances. Studies of sleep disturbances after stroke are mostly performed in the acute phase. An increased knowledge of sleep disturbances and its determinants a longer time after stroke is needed to improve treatment and rehabilitation.

Objective: To assess survivors of stroke more than 1 year after stroke onset and (1) investigate self-reported sleep disturbances and (2) explore the association between self-reported sleep disturbances, gender, age, time since stroke, other stroke characteristics, and sociodemographic data.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Community setting.

Participants: Participants (n = 160) in the Life After Stroke In Northern Sweden Study (LASINS) (46% women, mean age 73 years, mean time since stroke 35 months).

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measurements: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), stroke characteristics (time since stroke, first time stroke, type of stroke, location of stroke, stroke treatment and comorbidities) and sociodemographic data (gender, age, marital status, vocational situation, need for home help, and use of mobility devices).

Results: A total of 84 participants (53%) rated 6 points or more on the PSQI (mean 6.5 points, SD: ±4.2, min-max 0-18), indicating sleep disturbances. Gender (p = .002) and use of mobility devices (p = .036) explained 9.5% of the variance in PSQI.

Conclusion: Survivors of stroke report sleep disturbances even several years after stroke onset. Women and those using mobility devices, indicating less recovery after stroke, report sleep disturbances to a higher degree, regardless of chronological age, time since stroke onset, other stroke characteristics, comorbidities, and sociodemographic data. Further studies with a longitudinal design are needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of how stroke-related factors and other reasons account for poststroke sleep disturbances in order to improve treatment and rehabilitation.