Sleep disorders in patients with congestive heart failure hospitalized in Hajar hospital, Shahrekord, 2003

Sleep is an important regular and repeated biologic period and leads to refreshment of human life both physically and mentally. One third of human life is spending in sleep and lack of it, endangers human well being. This phenomenon usually is affected by both internal and external factors such as age, sex, drug, disease and surgery. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the sleep disorders in congestive heart failure patients in Hajar hospital of Shahrekord in 2003. This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 205 patients with an ejection fraction less than 40%. The sampling was conducted using simple method from September to November, 2003. Data were collected using a questionnaire comprising two parts of questions and expresses, which was filled in by the researchers. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test using SPSS. Prevalence of sleep disorders in congestive heart failure patients was %51. The most prevalent disorder for start sleep stage was disturbing thoughts (62%) and for co-sleep, stage was sleep rising by slight noise (77.1%) and for sleep-raising stage was sleep raising 2-3 hours sooner (57%). The statistical test showed that the more sleep disorder, the less sleep consent (p<0.001). Sleep disorders were more abundant in women (p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between sleep disorder score and age, but with aging, the sleep complications will be increased (p<0.05). Based on our results, the prevalence of sleep disorder in heart failure patients was higher than that of the general population. Regarding the importance of sleep in these patients providing good physical condition for sleep is necessary.