The Relationship Between Anxiety And Sleep Disturbances in Relatives of Patients with Acute Physiological Status Changes in Intensive Care Unit

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the seriousness of the clinical condition of the patients in intensive care unit (ICU) and acute stress symptoms of family members.

Patients and Methods: After local ethic committe approval and written informed consent was obtained, we carried out a prospective, descriptive study at a universty hospital in patients’ relatives. Clinical characteristics (APACHE II score) of patients was recorded. First degree relatives  of 60 ICU patients provided demographic data and completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form  (STAI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) within 24 h of ICU admission and 21 days later.

Results: There were a moderate correlation between APACHE 2 and STAI scores on  day 1 (r =0.477)  and a strong correlation (r = 0.503) on day 21 (p<0.05). A moderate correlation (r = 0.503)  was found between APACHE 2 score and PSQI on day 21. STAI scores were not different between genders on day 1. There was an increase in both sexes in STAI scores on day 21), and the scores ere significantly more in females (p=0.003). While there was no statistically significant difference in PSQI scores on day 1, an increase was found in both sexes on day 21 (p <0.001). Female family members  had more sleep disturbances  (p=0.008). STAI scores were higher in both mothers and fathers on day 1 and 21 (p<0.001).

Conclusions: An increasing relationship was determined between patients' acute physiological condition and anxiety with sleep quality level of patients’ relatives as the time passed.