Overall, 72.1% of patients on dialysis suffered from insomnia, with women having 1.88 times greater probability of suffering from insomnia compared to men, and hemodialysis patients experiencing significantly more nighttime awakenings than peritoneal dialysis patients.
The majority of dialysis patients in this study suffered from insomnia.
Difficulty falling asleep was the most commonly reported sleep problem among dialysis patients.
Daytime functioning and well-being were also negatively affected in a substantial portion of dialysis patients.
Hemodialysis patients experienced significantly more nighttime awakenings compared to peritoneal dialysis patients.
Female sex was significantly associated with a higher probability of suffering from insomnia among dialysis patients.
The authors recommend several interventions to improve sleep quality in the dialysis population.
This research suggests that poor sleep is extremely common among people receiving dialysis treatment for kidney failure, with nearly three-quarters (72.1%) of the 402 patients studied meeting criteria for insomnia according to a standardized sleep assessment tool called the Athens Insomnia Scale. The most common problems reported were difficulty falling asleep (41%), waking up during the night (40.3%), and waking up earlier than desired (35.6%). Many patients also experienced daytime consequences such as reduced well-being, lower functioning, and daytime sleepiness. The study also found important differences based on the type of dialysis and the patient's sex. Patients receiving hemodialysis (a treatment typically performed in a clinic several times per week) had significantly more nighttime awakenings than those receiving peritoneal dialysis (a home-based treatment). Additionally, women were nearly twice as likely as men to suffer from insomnia, with an odds ratio of 1.88. This research suggests that sleep problems in dialysis patients are widespread and may be influenced by both the type of dialysis treatment received and the patient's sex. The authors propose that sleep could potentially be improved through sleep hygiene education, exercise programs performed during dialysis sessions, earlier identification of sleep disorders, and greater use of home-based dialysis options. These findings highlight the need for healthcare providers treating dialysis patients to routinely screen for and address sleep disturbances as part of comprehensive care.
Zorba E, Fasoi G, Grapsa E, Zyga S, Kafkia T, Zartaloudi A, et al.. (2026). Association of Sociodemographic Factors with Sleep Quality in Patients on Dialysis.. Advances in experimental medicine and biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-03402-1_6