The relationship between the nutritional status and sleep quality of patients with atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between the nutritional status and sleep quality in patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation as a cross-sectional correlational research. METHODS: This cross-sectional correlational research was carried out with 108 patients between December 2017 and March 2018 who were admitted to the cardiology services of 2 different universities, diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and agreed to participate. Data collection was performed using internationally valid scales in order to evaluate the relationship between the nutritional status and sleep quality of patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. RESULTS: Of the patients, 47.2% were men and 52.8% were women. Most of them (81.5%) were over the age of 60 years. The mean age was 68.99±14.02. Of the patients, 13% were malnourished, 57.4% were at risk of malnutrition, and 29.6% had a normal nutritional status. This study determined that their sleep quality worsened and their daytime sleepiness increased as their risk of malnutrition increased (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: The patients’ sleep quality worsened and their daytime sleepiness increased as the risk of malnutrition increased.