Assessment of subjective sleep quality in iron deficiency anemia

Objective: We aimed to assess the effect of anemia on subjective sleep quality in patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA).

Method: One hundred and four patients diagnosed as IDA and 80 gender and age matched healthy individuals were included in the study. The study sample was requested to complete a socio-demographic form (age, gender, marital status, income level and educational status), Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results: In HAD scale, the average anxiety score was found to be 9.24±4.37 in the patient group and 7.58± 4.07 in the control group. The average depression score was 7.53±4.10 in the patient group and 6.41±2.74 in the control group. The total Sleep Quality Score was 6.71±3.02 in the patient group and 4.11±1.64 in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in terms of anxiety, depression and sleep quality scores. Linear regression analysis showed no association of anxiety and depression with poor sleeping.

Conclusion: In the present study, subjective sleep quality was examined in patients having iron deficiency anemia. The relation between sleep quality and laboratory values was studied. The results obtained showed that, irrespective of the depression and anxiety signs, the subjective sleep quality was worse in the patient group when compared to the control groups. No significant relation was found between the sleep quality and laboratory values of the patients.