A comparative cross-sectional study on sleep quality in patients with a history of differentiated thyroid carcinoma and its correlation with quality of life

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate sleep quality in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients and correlate sleep disturbances with quality of life (QoL). Methods 119 DTC patients were enrolled (DTC group). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) inventories were administered. The Thyroid-specific Patient-Reported Outcome (ThyPRO) questionnaire, the Billewicz scale (BS) and an ad-hoc visual analogic scale (VAS) were used to measure QoL and subjective therapy-related complaints. The same examinations were conducted in 53 subjects (control group) who had undergone surgery for benign thyroid pathology. Results L-T4 dosages and TSH levels differed between the groups. BS and VAS scores were comparable. PSQI documented a similar percentage of poor sleepers in the DTC (74%) and control (62%) groups. ISI showed no difference in subjects without clinically significant insomnia: DTC (43%) and controls (48%). ThyPRO showed significantly worse scores in DTC than control subjects. In DTC patients, PSQI (P = 0.002) and ISI (P = 0.04) correlated significantly with age. In control subjects, TSH displayed a significant positive association with PSQI (P = 0.02) and ISI (P < 0.05). The ThyPRO general score correlated significantly with PSQI in DTC patients. In both groups, ISI correlated significantly with several ThyPRO scales and the ThyPRO general score. “Anxiety” and “emotional susceptibility” were the scales most significantly related with PSQI and ISI. Conclusion In disease-free DTC patients and subjects who undergo thyroid surgery for benign pathology, abnormal sleep components and insomnia are similar. The ThyPRO questionnaire closely reflects sleep disturbances in all subjects. Recognising and treating sleep disturbances might improve QoL.

Health-Related Quality of Life following Total Thyroidectomy and Lobectomy for Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

“…A visual analog scale (VAS) was used by Teliti et al to assess complaints related to medical therapy [ 51 ]. Scores ranged from 0 (no complaints) to 10 (worse degree of complaints) [ 51 ].…”

“…In this review, we identified 20 studies reporting on physical HrQoL following TT or HT [ 18 , 34 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 64 , 65 , 67 , 68 , 70 , 73 ] ( Table 5 ). Eight studies compared postoperative TT HrQoL with community reference values using seven different QoL instruments (i.e., SF-36, MFI-20, ThyPRO, PSQI, Billewicz Score, visual analog scale, and 15D) [ 18 , 34 , 51 , 53 , 55 , 58 , 61 , 68 ].…”

“…In this review, we identified 20 studies reporting on physical HrQoL following TT or HT [ 18 , 34 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 64 , 65 , 67 , 68 , 70 , 73 ] ( Table 5 ). Eight studies compared postoperative TT HrQoL with community reference values using seven different QoL instruments (i.e., SF-36, MFI-20, ThyPRO, PSQI, Billewicz Score, visual analog scale, and 15D) [ 18 , 34 , 51 , 53 , 55 , 58 , 61 , 68 ]. Among these studies, six found a significant decrease in HrQoL for at least one of the following items: bodily pain ( n = 1), vitality ( n = 2), physical functioning ( n = 3), speech ( n = 1), general or physical fatigue ( n = 1), and sleep ( n = 1) [ 18 , 34 , 53 , 55 , 58 , 61 ].…”

“…Interestingly, two of these studies also found a significant decrease in bodily pain ( n = 1) or discomfort and symptoms ( n = 1) following TT compared with the reference population [ 34 , 58 ]. Teliti et al compared patients having undergone TT for DTC and for benign disease and found a significant impairment in the DTC group for goitre symptoms ( n = 1), cognitive complaints ( n = 1), and sleep efficiency ( n = 1) [ 51 ]. One study found no significant differences between the TT group and the general population for physical-related HrQoL [ 68 ].…”

Mental Health in Postoperative Thyroid Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The psychological and emotional issues in numerous populations during the COVID-19 pandemic have received increasing attention (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21). While psychological symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life after thyroid surgery have been reported by patients (34)(35)(36), the mental health of postoperative thyroid patients during the pandemic and the factors affecting it remain relatively unknown (37). To our knowledge, this current study is the first investigating mental health and influencing factors during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”