The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and characterist
ics of sleep complaints in patients on long-term hemodialysis, and to analy
se ifs relationship with perceived health status and other sociodemographic
and clinical characteristics. Sociodemographic and clinical data, and data
on restless legs syndrome (RLS) were collected from patients attending a h
ospital dialysis unit and a satellite dialysis centre. Patients were asked
to complete the Spanish versions of the Medical Outcome Study Sleep Scale,
and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). 60 patients completed the study; 2
9 (48%) reported "fair" or "poor" sleep, and of these 48% attributed their
sleep problems to their renal disease or to dialysis. 35% of patients were
taking hypnotics or ansiolytics. 27% had restless legs syndrome. Hemodialys
is patients scored significantly higher (worse sleep) on the sleep dimensio
n of the NHP than a similarly age sample of the Spanish general population.
Variables associated with sleep complaints were the comorbidity scale (r =
0.27, p < 0.05), marital status (single patients slept worse, p < 0.05), a
nd the restless legs syndrome (patients with RLS slept worse, p < 0.001). B
eing female, having higher scores on the Comorbidity Scale and sleep compla
ints were all significantly and independently associated with higher scores
(worse perceived health status) in the NHP. The high frequency of sleep co
mplaints and their contribution to impaired quality of life, justify furthe
r studies to improve the diagnosis and treatment of those disorders in pati
ents on hemodialysis.