Effects of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Sleep Quality in Heart Disease Patients with and without Heart Failure

Abstract

Insomnia is a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Previous studies suggested that attending a cardiac rehabilitation program may improve sleep quality in cardiac patients and pointed out the association between heart failure and poor sleep quality. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate sleep quality in patients attending a Multidisciplinary Cardiac Rehabilitation Program (MRCP), and to compare sleep quality between patients with and without heart failure. A prospective observational study was carried out on a consecutive sample of 240 patients attending an 8-week MRCP; 50 patients (20.8%) were included due to heart failure (NYHA stages I–III) and the rest of them after having undergone any revascularization procedure or valvular surgery. Before and after the completion of the MRCP, the quality of sleep was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score. Post-intervention global PSQI scores were statistically significantly lower than those of pre-intervention (p = 0.008), but only 60 patients (25%) registered a clinically significant improvement. When comparing patients with heart failure with those without, no differences in sleep quality were found. This suggests that only a small percentage of patients can achieve clinically significant improvements in sleep quality attending conventional MCRP. Suggestions for future research are given.

Evaluating sleep quality and activity of daily living in patients with heart failure: A cross-sectional analysis

“…Among the myriad challenges faced by patients with heart failure, the quality of sleep and their ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) are critical yet often overlooked dimensions. 2 This study aims to delve into these aspects, providing insights into the interplay between heart failure, sleep quality, and ADL. The significance of understanding these relationships lies in the potential to improve management strategies and patient outcomes.…”

Qualidade do sono entre pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca e fatores associados

“…Um estudo observacional espanhol concluiu que pacientes acompanhados por programas multidisciplinares de reabilitação cardíaca por meio de treino físico programado, educação em saúde e aconselhamento psicológico apresentaram melhora pouco significativa na qualidade do sono; entretanto, constatou-se melhora na qualidade de vida desses pacientes, ou seja, a curto prazo, foi uma intervenção satisfatória (Lodi Rizzini et al, 2022).…”