Self-reported sleep of post-operative cardiac surgery patients: preliminary data

Abstract

Hospitalized persons recovering from coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS) frequently report sleep pattern disturbances. The purpose of this study was to examine self-reported sleep patterns of cardiac surgery patients during hospitalization using a descriptive design. Twenty-nine cardiac surgery patients (23 men and 6 women, mean age = 67 years) completed daily sleep diaries for the second through the fifth post-operative days. The most frequently reported sleep difficulties were daytime sleepiness, difficulty staying asleep, and early morning awakenings. Sleep quality was poor, and patients received only 4-5 hours of sleep per night. The most frequently reported cause of sleep disturbance was nursing/medical interventions. Few patients received sleep-promoting interventions. These data suggest the need to develop strategies to improve sleep in these patients. Self-reported sleep diary information shows significant sleep disturbance patterns in post-operative CABS patients.