A Pilot Study about Sleep Quality Comparing Patients With and Without Injection-related Venous Ulcers

Purpose: Sleep is a physiologic and behavioral process essential for proper functioning of the body and believed important for wound healing. This study compared sleep quality of persons with (VU+) and without (VU-) injection-related venous ulcers and correlations of global sleep quality with health, physical activity, and demographic and venous ulcer variables.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. Instruments included the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA), PROMIS questions about general physical health, fatigue, emotional problems and quality of life, Brief Pain Inventory worst pain rating, Positive Attitude and Motivation for Physical Activity Scale, wound assessment, and demographic factors.

Results: The participants were 31 VU+ and 30 VU- (men [n = 35] and women; mean age = 54 years). The two groups did not differ on the PSQI scales in terms of time going to bed, minutes to fall asleep, time awakening, hours slept and time in bed. Those VU+ compared to VU- took more medication to help sleep (p < .03). There were no significant differences in PSQI correlations across groups.  A higher number of comorbidities, worse pain, poorer nutrition, poor physical health rating, greater fatigue, more emotional problems, and poor attitude toward physical activity were related to greater sleep disturbances for all participants. Both groups had mean Global PSQI scores greater than 5 (VU+ = 7.83 and VU- = 8.2) indicating sleep problems.

Conclusions: These findings add to the literature about sleep quality by comparing persons VU+ and VU-. It is important to consider sleep for patients with wounds because they can have many factors that negatively affect sleep.