The association between nocturnal hot flashes and sleep in breast cancer survivors

• Published in: Journal of pain and symptom management Vol. 27; no. 6; pp. 513 - 522
• Main Authors: Savard, Josée, Davidson, Judith R, Ivers, Hans, Quesnel, Catherine, Rioux, Dominique, Dupéré, Véronique, Lasnier, Mélissa, Simard, Sébastien, Morin, Charles M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-06-2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Breast carcinoma; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology; Circadian Rhythm; Comorbidity; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology); Diagnosis, Differential; Female; hot flash; Hot Flashes - diagnosis; Hot Flashes - epidemiology; Humans; insomnia; Medical sciences; menopause; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Quebec - epidemiology; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; sleep; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - diagnosis; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - epidemiology; Statistics as Topic; Survivors - statistics & numerical data; Quebec; hot flash; sleep; Breast carcinoma; menopause; insomnia; Skin disease; Nervous system diseases; Menopause; Sleep disorder; Cardiovascular disease; Breast cancer; Malignant tumor; Hot flush; Vascular disease; Mammary gland diseases; Insomnia; Neurological disorder; Erythema
• ISSN: 0885-3924; 1873-6513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2003.10.013

This study examined the relationship between objectively measured nocturnal hot flashes and objectively measured sleep in breast cancer survivors with insomnia. Twenty-four women who had completed treatment for non-metastatic breast cancer participated. All were enrolled in a study of cognitive–behavioral treatment for chronic insomnia. Nocturnal hot flashes and sleep were measured by skin conductance and polysomnography, respectively. The 10-minute periods around hot flashes were found to have significantly more wake time, and more stage changes to lighter sleep, than other 10-minute periods during the night. Nights with hot flashes had a significantly higher percentage of wake time, a lower percentage of Stage 2 sleep, and a longer REM latency compared to nights without hot flashes. Overall, hot flashes were found to be associated with less efficient, more disrupted sleep. Nocturnal hot flashes, or their underlying mechanisms, should be considered as potential contributors to sleep disruption in women with breast cancer who report poor sleep.