Photo Credit: Stefanamer
Sleep disorders occur frequently and are underrecognized in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a rapid review published in Supportive Care in Cancer. The researchers identified 513 published articles from MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL, selecting 26 publications through abstract and title screening, full-text review, and quality assessment. Of the selected studies, 96.15% were observational, comprising 12 cross-sectional, six longitudinal, and six descriptive comparative studies. Sleep disturbances were reported in 45% to 97% of patients. The authors consistently observed poor sleep efficiency and nighttime awakenings. Reported sleep duration and sleep latency varied across studies. The researchers noted differences in study design and measurement tools among the included publications. They called for further research into the identification and classification of sleep disorders to improve QOL in this patient population.
