Sleep assessment in cystic fibrosis patients using a minimal-impact biomotion system

Abstract

Purpose: In our study we aimed to analyze sleep variability and activity in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) during their hospital stay.

Methods: Forty-three CF patients were recruited and have been divided into two subgroups: exacerbated (n = 18) and non-exacerbated (n = 25). During the course of their hospital stay we used VitaLog, a minimal-impact biomotion device, in order to determine total sleep time (TST), time in bed (TIB), sleep efficiency (SE) and intra patient standard deviation (IPSD) of TST.

Results: TST was 5.1 h ± 1.5 h and ranged from 0.6h to 7.9 h.TIB was 17.7 h ± 3.8 h and ranged from 5.6h to 23.9 h. SE was 70.0% ± 17.0% and ranged from 13.6% to 98.5%. TST was higher in non-exacerbated patients (5.3 h ± 1.4 h vs. 4.8 h ± 1.6 h, p = 0.008) whereas TIB was lower in non-exacerbated patients (17.0 h ± 3.7 h vs. 18.5 h ± 3.8 h, p = 0.002). We also found that SE was better in non-exacerbated patients (73.1% ± 14.6% vs. 66.6% ± 18.8%, p = 0.002). Furthermore, we observed that IPSD of TST was higher in exacerbated patients (1.3 h ± 0.5 h vs. 0.9 h ± 0.4 h, p = 0.004).

Conclusion: In general, in CF patients TST was short and SE poor during the night. Furthermore, in the course of their hospital stay patients showed low activity. In exacerbated patients sleep quality was lower compared to non-exacerbated patients.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Exacerbation; Hospitalization; Sleep; Telemedicine.