Sleep in family caregivers of ICU survivors for two months post-ICU discharge

To describe changes in sleep quality in family caregivers of ICU survivors from the patients’ ICU admission until two months post-ICU discharge. Descriptive repeated measure design. Academic hospital medical ICU. Subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]) and objective sleep/wake variables (SenseWear Armband™) were measured in family caregivers at patients’ ICU admission, within two weeks post-ICU discharge and two months post-ICU discharge. In 28 family caregivers of ICU survivors, most caregivers reported poor sleep quality (i.e. PSQI >5) across the three time points (64.3% during patients’ ICU admission, 53.6% at each post-ICU time point). Worse trends in sleep quality and objective sleep/wake pattern were observed in caregivers who were employed, and a non-spouse. There were trends of worsening sleep quality in caregivers of patients unable to return home within two months post-ICU discharge compared to patients able to return home. Poor sleep quality was highly prevalent and persisted in family caregivers of ICU survivors for two months post-ICU discharge. Our data support the need for a larger longitudinal study to examine risk factors associated with sleep quality in family caregivers of ICU survivors to develop targeted interventions.