Factors of Affecting Sleep Quality in Cancer Patients

Aim:Sleep disorders are one of the most common problems in patients with malignancy and they severely decrease the quality of life. We sought to investigate the frequency of sleep disturbances, its quantity, quality and possible correlation with related factors such as depression and anxiety.Materials and Methods:150 patients participated and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to evaluate the sleep quality. It is a self-administered questionnaire and standardized measure of sleep quality. Total score of ≥5 shows that the quality of sleep is remarkably bad. Also a self-report measure of depression, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); and a self-report measure of anxiety, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used.Results:Of the 150 patients, 74.0% has bad sleep quality (score >5 ). Mean PSQI total score was 7.34 (min 0-max 20). No differences were found between PSQI mean scores in terms of gender, radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy (CHT), having chronic disease or having metastatic disease. NSAIDs and opioids were significantly correlated with PSQI (p<0.001). PSQI total scores are strongly associated with the BDI score (r=.424, p<0.001) and BAI score (r=.417, p<0.001).Conclusion:We found a high prevalence rate of bad sleep quality at 74%. Effective sleep treatment and psychological support should be provided in oncology clinics

The demographic characteristics, prognosis, and relationship with cancer subtypes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with malignancy: A single-center experience

Undoubtedly, cancer patients have suffered the most from the COVID-19 pandemic process. However, cancer is a heterogeneous disease, and each patient has responded differently to COVID-19. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with cancer and COVID-19. We retrospectively reviewed 45 cancer patients hospitalized in the Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty COVID-19 department from March 23 to October 23, 2020. We analyzed the demographic characteristics, symptoms, laboratory findings, treatment, prognosis, and cancer subtypes of patients and mortality who were hospitalized for COVID-19. Between March 23 and October 23, 2020, 45 hospitalized cancer patients who had laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection were included, with a median age of 60 years (range: 23-92). Patients were divided into two groups a survivor and a non-survivor. Symptoms, demographic information, comorbidities, treatments for COVID-19, and laboratory findings of the two groups were evaluated separately. Two parameters were found, which showed a significant difference between non-survivors and survivors displaying a disadvantage for COPD and low platelet count (p = 0.044-0.038). The mortality rate of all patients was 66%. The presence of comorbidities such as COPD and low platelet count in cancer patients with COVID-19 infection may draw the attention of physicians