Sleep quality in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe sleep quality and to identify associated factors in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 113 patients (70.8% men, mean age 59.7 years). An instrument was used for sociodemographic and clinical characterization and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results showed that 71.7% of participants had poor sleep quality and over 64% slept six hours or less per night. The presence of diabetes mellitus, depression, and absence of physical activity contributed to increase the final score of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in about 2.5 points for each variable. The identification of sleep quality and proposals of interventions to improve sleep quality must be included in the actions of nurses in order to reduce harm to patients’ health before and after the acute myocardial infarction episode.