Sleep disturbances and their impact on quality of life of patients with epilepsy

CILJ ISTRAŽIVANJA: Osnovni cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi pojavnost poremećaja spavanja kod bolesnika s epilepsijom. Specifični cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi utjecaj poremećaja spavanja na pojavnost epileptičkih napadaja i na kvalitetu života osoba s epilepsijom. NACRT STUDIJE: Istraživanje je ustrojeno kao presječno istraživanje. ISPITANICI I METODE: U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 32 ispitanika oboljelih od epilepsije koji se liječe u ambulanti za epilepsiju Klinike za neurologiju KBC-a Osijek. Kao instrument istraživanja koristio se anonimni upitnik koji se sastoji od strukturiranog intervjua za epileptičare, Pitsburškog indeksa kvalitete spavanja (engl. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI) i Upitnika za procjenu zdravstvenog statusa SF-36 (engl. The Short Form (36) Health Survey). REZULTATI: Istraživanje je provedeno na 32 ispitanika od kojih 47 % ima narušenu kvalitetu spavanja. Nema značajnih razlika u kvaliteti spavanja ispitanika s obzirom na učestalost epileptičkih napadaja. Nema povezanosti kvalitete spavanja s vrstom napadaja, doba dana javljanja napadaja, kao ni s brojem i vrstom antiepileptičkih lijekova. Nema značajne razlike u sveukupnom fizičkom i psihičkom profilu zdravlja s obzirom na kvalitetu spavanja ispitanika, osim na komponentu percepcije psihičkog zdravlja (p = 0,01). Ispitanici s komorbiditetima imaju značajno manji broj bodova u profilu fizičkog zdravlja (p = 0,03). ZAKLJUČAK: Narušena kvaliteta spavanja razmjerno je česta u bolesnika s epilepsijom. Nema povezanosti između kvalitete spavanja i učestalosti epileptičkih napadaja. Kvaliteta spavanja ne utječe značajno na kvalitetu života ispitanika. Komorbiditeti su snažniji prediktori kvalitete života ispitanika nego kvaliteta spavanja.OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to identify the occurrence of sleep disorders in patients with epilepsy. The specific aim was to examine the influence of sleep disorders on seizure frequency and quality of life of patients with epilepsy. STUDY DESIGN: The study is organized as a cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The study included thirty-two patients with epilepsy treated at the Department for epilepsy, at the Clinic of Neurology of the Clinical Hospital Center Osijek. The instrument used was an anonymous questionnaire, which consisted of structured interview for patients, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: Out of thirty-two patients included in the study, 47% reported poor sleep quality. There are no significant differences among participants based on seizure frequency. There is no correlation between sleep quality and type of epileptic seizure, time of the day of seizure, as well as number and type of antiepileptic drugs used. There is no significant difference in physical and mental health components based on sleep quality, except for the mental health perception (p=0.01). Participants with comorbidities have significantly lower scores in physical health component (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Poor sleep quality is very common in patients with epilepsy. There is no correlation between sleep quality and seizure frequency. Sleep quality does not significantly affect the quality of life of participants. Comorbidities are a stronger predictor of quality of life than sleep quality in participants