Association of dietary quality indices with sleep quality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Abstract

Purpose

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffer from many health problems including poor sleep. This paper aims to evaluate the relationship between diet quality indices (DQIs) and sleep quality in COPD.

Design/methodology/approach

The current cross-sectional study was carried on 121 COPD patients. Subjective quality of sleep was determined by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and categorized into “poor” and “good” sleep quality. Dietary history was assessed by the DQIs. Disease status was categorized according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Guidelines.

Findings

In total, 103 men and 18 women with a mean age of 66.1 ±10.9 were studied. The subjects were categorized into four groups based on GOLD; 3.3% of subjects were at Stage 1, 38% in Stage 2, 38% in Stage 3 and 20.7% in Stage 4. In total, 38% of subjects were good, and 62% were bad sleepers according to PSQI score. There was no significant relationship between the severity of COPD and PSQI score. We observed a significant inverse relation between PSQI total score and Mediterranean diet (MED) scale, Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010 and HEI-2005 (p = 0.024, 0.037 and 0.024, respectively) in males.

Originality/value

This study showed a high prevalence of poor quality of sleep and sleep disturbances among COPD patients. There was an inverse association between PSQI and sleep disorders and DQIs scores in COPD patients. Regardless of the severity of airflow obstruction, poor diet quality may constitute a risk factor for sleep quality.

Citation

Paknahad, Z., Yazdanpanah, L., Maracy, M.R., Moravejolahkami, A.R., Javad-Mousavi, S.A. and Nemati, A. (2020), "Association of dietary quality indices with sleep quality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 50 No. 6, pp. 1295-1307. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-11-2019-0333