The Association Between Sleep Disturbance and Proinflammatory Markers in Patients With Cancer

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between sleep disturbance and proinflammatory markers in adult patients with cancer. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in 7 databases from inception to March 1, 2020, for this meta-analysis. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted data, and appraised the quality of the studies. Meta-analyses were conducted using Stata 12.0 software. Results: Sixteen studies were included. Results indicated that sleep disturbance was associated with higher levels of the overall proinflammatory markers and that the effect size was small yet significant. Further subgroup analyses suggested that sleep disturbance was significantly associated with interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein, but not with interleukin-1β or tumor necrosis factor-α. Meta-regression results indicated that only the sample source affected the association between sleep disturbance and proinflammatory markers. Conclusion: There was a positive relationship between sleep disturbance and selected proinflammatory markers in adult patients with cancer.

Interventions for insomnia in cancer patients and survivors—a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The role of sleep in cancer outcomes could partly be explained by the known bidirectional associations between sleep and the immune system ( 15 ). Sleep disturbance has been found to be associated with increased levels of inflammation in cancer patients ( 16 ), and the role of inflammation in cancer progression is well established ( 17 ). Inflammation may, in turn, play a central role in the cluster of sleep disturbance, fatigue, depression, and pain symptoms commonly observed in cancer patients and survivors ( 18 , 19 ).…”