BACKGROUND/AIMS

Physical and mental symptoms, such as sleep disturbances and depression, are common problems in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C (CH-B and CH-C) and liver cirrhosis (LC). Poor sleep and depression negatively impact patients' quality of life and cognitive functions. The objective of the present study was to search the affecting factors of sleep quality and depression levels in patients with CH-B, CH-C, and LC.

MATERIAL and METHODS

We performed a descriptive and cross-sectional study of 135 patients with CH-B and CH-C and 75 patients with LC in two training hospitals. Data were gathered by application of an introductory form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Beck Depression Scale to 135 patients with CH-B and CH-C and 75 patients with LC. Percentage, t-test, one way analysis of variance, Tukey test, and Pearson correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

It is found that patients’ sleep qualities are meaningfully worse in the hepatitis patient groups that are between 51 and 74 years, female patients who do not have a job and taking antidepressant medicines, patients who have hypertension and taking antihypertension medicines, and patients who have chronic lung diseases and the cirrhosis patient groups that have been treated for a long time than in the other groups. A positive relationship was detected between sleep quality and depression levels in CH-B, CH-C, and LC.

CONCLUSION

In patients with CH-B, CH-C, and LC, poor sleep quality is strongly related to depression. We suggest that the evaluation and treatment of sleep disturbance to assess patients could improve the quality of life.

Keywords: Cirrhosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, dleep quality, depression