Changes in sleep architecture after burn injury: 'Waking up' to this unaddressed aspect of postburn rehabilitation in the developing world.

Background: Changes in sleep architecture are common phenomena observed in post-traumatic patients; such altered sleeping patterns have negative implications on various phases of rehabilitation. Sleep is an essential process, without which one cannot function effectively and, hence, any aberrations in the quality of sleep in such patients need to be critically analyzed.

Objective: To probe the quality of sleep in postburn patients at one year compared with a group of adequately matched controls.

Methods: Quality of sleep in postburn patients at one year was measured using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index questionnaire and compared with a group of adequately matched controls. Data were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis using Pearson's χ(2) test.

Results: The relationship between the postburn state and sleep disturbances was found to be statistically significant. Other relevant parameters are also highlighted and discussed.

Discussion: Sleep is one of aspect of functioning that may be least taken into account by professionals during the phase of postburn rehabilitation because more obvious threats receive preferred treatment. Unless these problems are dealt with in the postburn period, rehabilitation can never be complete.

Conclusion: Postburn patients experience significant changes in sleep architecture, which need to be taken into account to enable complete rehabilitation of the patient.