Background: Cancer survivors experience sleep disturbances and insomnia at higher rates than the general population, often due to the psychological, behavioral, and physical effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Aim: This study aimed to explore the relationship between changes in sleep pattern, sleep problems, quality of life (QoL), and subjective health among cancer survivors in Korea.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at multiple cancer centers, including 339 survivors diagnosed with one or more of six major cancers (stomach, colorectal, liver, breast, gynecological, and lung) who had completed active treatment. Participants were recruited hospital-based and completed a structured questionnaire online (92.7%) or in person (8.3%). We used questions related to sleep patterns, including changes before and after cancer diagnosis and sleep difficulties. The QoL was assessed by the EQ-5D-3L and subjective health was assessed using the EQ-VAS. Statistical analyses, including independent t-tests, chi-square analysis, and ANCOVA, were performed to examine differences by demographic and clinical factors and the associations between sleep problems and QoL/subjective health.
Conclusion: The average sleep hours among participants was 6.66±2.04 hours, and 47.8% of respondents experienced changes in sleep patterns after cancer diagnosis. The most common sleep problems were frequent awakenings (67.3%), difficulty falling asleep (42.0%), and reduced sleep duration (36.6%). In addition, survivors with altered sleep patterns had significantly lower QoL scores (EQ-5D: 0.82±0.13 vs. 0.91±0.59; p=0.01) and subjective health scores (EQ-VAS: 61.39±17.17 vs. 78.71±13.85; p<0.001) compared with those without changes. After adjusting for confounders, survivors experiencing current sleep problems had significantly lower QoL and subjective health scores.
Sleep pattern changes and sleep problems among cancer survivors are strongly associated with poor quality of life and subjective health status. Identifying the factors contributing to sleep disturbances and providing tailored interventions to address these issues are required for improving the overall well-being of cancer survivors.