RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Sleep Disorders Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Patients Assigned to Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer
JF In Vivo
JO In Vivo
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 2253
OP 2260
DO 10.21873/invivo.12498
VO 35
IS 4
A1 DIRK RADES
A1 CARLOS A. NARVAEZ
A1 STEVEN E. SCHILD
A1 SOEREN TVILSTED
A1 TROELS W. KJAER
YR 2021
UL http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/35/4/2253.abstract
AB Background/Aim: The anticipation of radiotherapy can cause distress and sleep disorders, which may be aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated sleep disorders in a large cohort of patients with breast cancer before and during the pandemic. Patients and Methods: Twenty-three characteristics were retrospectively analyzed for associations with pre-radiotherapy sleep disorders in 338 patients. Moreover, 163 patients presenting before and 175 patients presenting during the COVID-19 pandemic were compared for sleep disorders. Results: Sleep disorders were significantly associated with age ≤60 years (p=0.006); high distress score (p<0.0001); more emotional (p<0.0001), physical (p<0.0001) or practical (p<0.0001) problems; psycho-oncological need (p<0.0001); invasive cancer (p=0.003); chemotherapy (p<0.001); and hormonal therapy (p=0.006). Sleep disorders were similarly common in both groups (prior to vs. during the pandemic: 40% vs. 45%, p=0.38). Conclusion: Although additional significant risk factors for sleep disorders were identified, the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to have no significant impact on sleep disorders in patients scheduled for irradiation of breast cancer.