The researchers analyzed data from 432 patients who wore wrist monitors to assess the duration and quality of their sleep.
Participants slept on average for 6.5 hours a night. During the follow-up period, 70 patients developed kidney failure while 48 patients died. After adjusting for other factors, the researchers found that every additional hour of sleep was associated with a 10 percent decrease in the risk of kidney failure. There was also an association between sleep quality and kidney failure risk.
Researcher Ana C. Ricardo concluded, “Short sleep and fragmented sleep are significant, yet unappreciated risk factors for CKD progression. Our research adds to the accumulating knowledge regarding the importance of sleep on kidney function, and underscores the need to design and test clinical interventions to improve sleep habits in individuals with CKD.”
Other sleep issues in chronic kidney disease
As mentioned, sleep disorders are common in chronic kidney disease. They include:
Restless leg syndrome (RLS): Restless leg syndrome is a neurological disorder that runs in families, and researchers have uncovered specific genes associated with RLS. Other research has found low levels of iron in the brains of people with RLS. The syndrome is related to dysfunction in the brain’s basal ganglia circuits that transfer dopamine necessary to produce smooth movements.
Sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which a person stops breathing for split seconds numerous times throughout the night. Obstructive sleep apnea is a preventable condition, as many lifestyle factors can be changed in order to lower one’s risk of developing sleep apnea.
Inadequate dialysis clearance: When waste builds up as a result due to not being cleared properly through dialysis, patients may be feeling ill and uncomfortable, which reduces sleep quality.
Emotions: Worry, anxiety, stress, and other emotions can impact your sleep. Addressing your emotional troubles can improve sleep quality.
Changes in sleep patterns: Sleep patterns may change when you’re very fatigue and tend to nap during the day. Daytime sleep disturbs the nighttime sleep as a result.
Talk to your doctor about your sleeping problems, especially if you have kidney disease. The sooner they are resolved, the better sleep you can have, which can help slow down the progression of kidney disease.