Sleep quality and quality of life in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Objectives: To evaluate clinical predictors of poor sleep quality and quality of life (QOL) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: Consecutive stable patients with HCM were evaluated for the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by the Berlin Questionnaire, daytime sleepiness by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, sleep quality by the Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire Index and QOL by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Asymptomatic subjects without HCM were used as controls.

Results: We studied 84 patients with HCM and 42 controls who were similar with regard to gender (49 vs. 50% males), age [52 (38-62) vs. 47 (33-58) years] and body mass index (27 ± 4 vs. 27 ± 5). HCM diagnosis, high risk for OSA and female gender were independently associated with poor sleep quality in the entire population. Among patients with HCM, poor QOL was independently associated with poor sleep quality, New York Heart Association functional class and diuretic therapy.

Conclusion: Poor sleep quality is very common in patients with HCM and may have a negative impact on the QOL, which in turn is an important marker of prognosis in patients with cardiomyopathies.