A descriptive analysis of sleep disturbances in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing haemodialysis.

SUMMARY Many studies reveal the presence of sleep disturbances in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing haemodialysis. The objective of this study was to identify the incidence of sleep disturbances in a sample of 112 patients, being treated by a dialysis centre. Patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, were interviewed by means of a questionnaire. The average age was 63.97, 79 male (70.5%) and 33 female (29.4%). The principal pathology underlying subjects' ESRD was hypertension (27.6%) and cardiovascular pathologies were the accompanying pathologies most suffered (75.8%). Sleep disturbances were noted in 54 patients (48.2%). These findings confirm the results of the literature, but less daytime sleepiness and nighttime waking occurred with this study group.