Cite this article: Visco D, Niesley M, Hughes A, Lewis M (2015) Incidence of Sleep Disturbance and Evaluation of Sleep Quality in Patients Diagnosed with Cancer. Clin Res Pulmonol 3(1): 1030. Clinical Research in Pulmonology Special Issue on Hospital Pulmonary Sleep Medicine Edited by: Sunil Sharma, MD, FAASM Associate Professor of Medicine, Director, Pulmonary Sleep Medicine, Associate Director, Jefferson Sleep Disorders Center, Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals, USA Central Bringing Excellence in Open Access   *Corresponding author Ma rk Le wis, MPH, Ea ste rn Re g io na l Me d ic a l C e nte r, C a nc e r Tre a tme nt C e nte rs o f Ame ric a , 1331 E. Wyo ming Ave , Philade lphia, PA 19124, USA, Te l: 1-215- 537-7068; Fax: 1-215-537-7901; E-mail: Submitte d: 08 De c e mb e r 2014 Accepted: 08 Fe b rua ry 2015 Publishe d: 01 O c to b e r 2015 ISSN: 2333-6625 Copyright © 2015 Le wis e t a l. OPEN ACCESS Ke ywo rds • Sle e p q ua lity, C a nc e r, Fa tig ue , Sle e p d isturb a nc e , Sc re e ning Review Article Incidence of Sleep Disturbance and Evaluation of Sleep Quality in Patients Diagnosed with Cancer David P. Visco, MD; Michelle L. Niesley, ND, MS; Alyssa M. Hughes; Mark E. Lewis, MPH* Eastern Regional Medical Center, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, 1331 E Wyoming Ave, Philadelphia, USA Abstract Introduction: Sleep disorders affect 10-15% of the US population, which has signifcant implications for quality of life. Oncology patients often experience more prominent detrimental effects of sleep deprivation. Fatigue is one of the most debilitating symptoms, and occurs in 75% ofpatients with cancer. Methods: Eastern Regional Medical Center implemented a process by which subjective and objective sleep screening assessment is standard practice for all patients new to the center. Patients were provided both a combined sleep questionnaire and an at-home sleep screen device. This device links the physiology of autonomic, respiratory, and mathematically captures electro cortical activity collectively referred to as cardiopulmonary coupling. Results and Discussion: This retrospective review encompassed a total 1,207 new patients seen between March 2013 and April 2014. They were stratifed into three populations having completed: subjective questionnaires, objective screening, and both measures. For the 242 patients who completed the subjective questionnaire, 65% were considered to have a likelihood of sleep disturbance, and 68% of patients reported feeling tired/fatigued/sleepy during the day. The objective screening notes 71% of patients had poor sleep quality. Interestingly for both measures, patients who had poor scores subjectively actually outperformed their counterparts on the objective sleep assessment. Conclusion: The results of this study emphasize the importance of utilizing both subjective and objective assessments for sleep analysis. Assessing sleep with only one of these tools would not provide an accurate account of sleep disturbance. The ability to assess overall sleep quality, as well as low and high frequency coupling has proven valuable in determining further diagnostic testing or evaluations. The contradictions found between subjective, self-reported data and the objective data obtained through the Sleep Image® device suggest other factors may contribute to patients feeling sleep deprived or well rested.