Cancer sleep symptom‐related phenotypic clustering differs across three cancer specific patient cohorts

Abstract

Specific sleep disorders have been linked to disease progression in different cancers.We hypothesised sleep symptom clusters would differ between cancer types. The aim of this study was to compare sleep symptom clusters in post-treatment melanoma, breast and endometrial cancer patients. Data were collected from 124 breast cancer patients (1 male, 60 ± 15 years, 28.1 ± 6.6 kg/m 2 ), 82 endometrial cancer patients (64.0 ± 12.5 years, 33.5 ± 10.4 kg/m 2 ) and 112 melanoma patients (59 male, 65.0 ± 18.0 years, 29.1 ± 6.6 kg/m 2 ). All patients completed validated questionnaires to assess sleep symptoms, including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire-10 (FOSQ-10). Snoring, tiredness, observed apneas, age, BMI, and gender data were also collected. Binary values (PSQI, ISI, FOSQ), or continuous variables for sleepiness (ESS) and perceived sleep quality (PSQI), were created and sleep symptom clusters were identified and compared across cancer cohorts. Four distinct sleep symptom clusters were identified: minimally symptomatic (n = 152, 47.7%); insomnia-predominant (n = 87, 24.9%); very sleepy with upper airway symptoms (n = 51, 16.3%), and severely symptomatic with severe dysfunction (n = 34, 11.1%). Breast cancer patients were significantly more likely to be in the insomnia predominant or severely symptomatic with severe dysfunction clusters, whereas

Supporting gut health with medicinal cannabis in people with advanced cancer: potential benefits and challenges

“…These benefits largely relate to the ability to control multiple symptoms early in their aetiology, rather than therapeutically targeting single symptoms that may have developed and persisted well after treatment ends. This holistic approach to controlling multiple symptoms is in line with recent suggestions by the MASCC, and also aligns with the scientific evidence that underpins the clinical phenomenon of symptom clustering [ 112 – 114 ].…”

Screening for obstructive sleep apnoea in post‐treatment cancer patients

“…Cancer patients often complain of poor sleep and sleep‐related symptoms (e.g., difficulty falling asleep, daytime sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep, snoring, fatigue). 42 We recently published data describing four distinct sleep symptom clusters identified across 318 cancer patients; a minimally symptomatic group (47.7%); insomnia‐predominant group (24.9%); very sleepy with upper airway symptoms (16.3%), and a severely symptomatic group with severe dysfunction (11.1%). 43 Breast cancer patients were more likely to report insomnia related or severe symptoms, whereas melanoma patients were more likely to be minimally symptomatic or sleepy with upper airway symptoms.…”

Study on the Profiles of Sleep Disorders, Associated Factors, and Pathways Among Gynecological Cancer Patients – A Latent Profile Analysis

“… 3 Sleep disorders caused by gynecological cancer, such as difficulty falling asleep, sleep interruption, and easy early awakening, are more common and severe compared to other cancers. 4 , 5 Therefore, it was particularly important to solve the sleep problems of gynecological cancer patients, because 30–88% of these patients were affected by sleep disorders, affecting their daily life, course of disease and even prognosis. 6 Sleep played an important role in promoting health.…”