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Cited by 415Sleep and related disordersCancer survivorship and careSleep and Work-Related Fatigue

Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Risk Factors for Insomnia in the Context of Breast Cancer

Savard, Josée, Simard, Sébastien, Blanchet, Julie, Ivers, Hans, Morin, Charles M.·2001·SLEEP
DOI 10.1093/sleep/24.5.583
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Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of insomnia, describe clinical characteristics of sleep difficulties, assess the influence of cancer on the insomnia course, and identify potential risk factors involved in the development of insomnia among women who had received radiotherapy for non metastatic breast cancer. DESIGN: A sample of 300 consecutive women who had been treated with radiotherapy for non metastatic breast cancer first completed an insomnia screening questionnaire. Participants who reported sleep difficulties were subsequently interviewed over the phone to evaluate further the nature, severity, duration, and course of their insomnia. SETTING: N/A. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: N/A. INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Nineteen percent (n=56) of the participants met diagnostic criteria for an insomnia syndrome. In most cases (95%), insomnia was chronic. The onset of insomnia followed the breast cancer diagnosis in 33% of the patients and 58% of the patients reported that cancer either caused or aggravated their sleep difficulties. Factors associated with an increased risk for insomnia were sick leave, unemployment, widowhood, lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and a less severe cancer stage at diagnosis. Among women with insomnia symptoms, the risk to meet diagnostic criteria for an insomnia syndrome was higher in those who were separated and had a university degree. CONCLUSIONS: Insomnia is a prevalent and often chronic problem in breast cancer patients. Although it is not always a direct consequence of cancer, pre-existing sleep difficulties are often aggravated by cancer. It is therefore important to better screen breast cancer patients with insomnia and offer them an appropriate treatment.

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Crossref · 10.1093/sleep/24.5.583

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  • Multiple factors contribute to insomnia among patients with breast cancer, including endocrine therapy and hot flashes, pain and discomfort from local therapy, and fear of recurrence.

    “Multiple factors contribute to insomnia among patients with breast cancer, including endocrine therapy and hot flashes, pain and discomfort from local therapy, and fear of recurrence [81,87].”

    From The Effect of Vinyasa Yoga Practice on the Well-Being of Breast-Cancer Patients during COVID-19 Pandemic (2023) · cites this paper as [87]

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Authors
Savard, J., Simard, S., Blanchet, J., Ivers, H., & Morin, C. M.
Affiliations
  • Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec (CA)
  • Université Laval (CA)
Corresponding author
Savard, Josée
ORCID
Venue
SLEEP
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2001-08
Volume
24
Issue
5
Pages
583-590
ISSN
  • 0161-8105 (ISSN-L)
  • 1550-9109
DOI
10.1093/sleep/24.5.583
OpenAlex
W2187508655
Cited by
414
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 23
FWCI
8.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • SLEEP (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
Keywords
insomnia, breast cancer, radiotherapy, chronic insomnia, sleep disorders, risk factors, prevalence, women, chemotherapy, breast-conserving surgery, tumor stage, sick leave, unemployment, widowhood, marital separation, educational attainment, insomnia screening
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Breast Neoplasms, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Staging, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Time Factors, Prevalence

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