Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is associated with poor sleep quality: Tamagawa cross-sectional study on the relationship between lifestyle and atrial fibrillation (TAMAGAWA-AF study)

Background

Quality of life (QOL) is reduced in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data regarding the association between sleep quality, one of the major components of QOL, and AF are insufficient. This cross-sectional study aimed to elucidate whether sleep quality is reduced in patients with AF.

Methods

We recruited 2054 consecutive outpatients (64 ± 10 years, 1089 men) who had regularly presented to 26 clinics affiliated with the Tamagawa Medical Association, Tokyo, Japan. The patients were divided into paroxysmal AF (PaAF), persistent or permanent AF (PeAF), and non-AF groups. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The global PSQI score was calculated according to the answer to each question, and poor sleep quality was defined as a global PSQI score ≥6 points. Logistic regression analysis was used to obtain odds ratio for poor sleep quality in the PaAF and PeAF groups, relative to the non-AF group.

Results

The PaAF group showed significantly increased odds ratio for poor sleep quality (1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.02–2.17), after adjusting for multiple potential confounders. In contrast, no significant odds ratio for poor sleep quality was observed in the PeAF group (1.09, 95% confidence interval 0.70–1.71). Among the PSQI components, poor subjective sleep quality and sleep disturbances were the main determinants of poor sleep quality in the PaAF group.

Conclusion

Sleep quality was found to be reduced in patients with PaAF, and this may be attributed to poor subjective sleep quality and sleep disturbances.