Evaluation of sleep quality in individuals with chronic disease and multiple drug use

Aim: Chronic diseases are one of the most important factors affecting the quality of life, determining the level of health and enabling patients to apply to primary health care services. The use of multiple drugs is a situation that arises due to the regulation of chronic diseases. Another factor determining health level is sleep quality. In this study, we aimed to evaluate sleep quality in individuals with chronic disease and multiple drug use. Methods: Our research, which was designed as descriptive and cross-sectional, was conducted through face-to-face interviews through a questionnaire. In the prepared questionnaire, the socio-demographic characteristics, habits, chronic diseases, number of drugs used by the individuals participating in the study were evaluated and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questions were asked. The data obtained as a result of the research were transferred to the computer environment and analyzed with the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 27.0 package program. The indepentdent-t test was used to compare normally distributed numerical data in two groups, and the One-Way ANOVA test was used to compare more than two groups. The relationship between numerical variables was evaluated with Pearson Correlation analysis. Statistically p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Patients over the age of 18 who applied to Akdeniz University Family Medicine Polyclinic, had at least one chronic disease and had regular drug use were included in the study. In the study, in which a total of 365 people participated, the mean age was 54.70±14.64 (min: 18.00-max: 91.00), 61.4% (n=224) of the participants were female, 75.6% ( n=276) were married and 86.3% (n=315) had at least one child. 25.2% (n=92) of the participants stated that they smoked and 12.3% (n=45) stated that they used alcohol. When evaluated in terms of diseases,26.3% (n=96) of the participants had an acute illness in the last month, 55.3% had more than one chronic disease, while 35.3% reported four or more drug use per day. The sleep quality index mean score of the participants included who were included to the study was found to be 6.19±3.45 (min:0.00-max:18.00). According to these scores, 39.2% (n=143) of the participants had good sleep quality (<5 points), 60.8% (n=222) had poor sleep quality (≥5 points). There was a statistical difference between the presence of cardiovascular disease and the sleep quality index mean scores of the participants (p=0.008). Conclusion: Cardiovascular diseases were found to be significantly associated with poor sleep quality, and sleep quality deterioration was observed among individuals with chronic diseases and multiple drug use. It is recommended to increase necessary information and training in make family physicians, who are the health care level most frequently used by individuals with chronic diseases and multiple drug use, effective in evaluating sleep, sleep disorders and sleep quality. Primary care physicians, who are the first point of contact for monitoring and improving sleep quality with its impact on health, have a great responsibility. Keywords: Chronic diseases, Multiple drug use, Sleep quality, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index