ORIGINAL ARTICLE Received: 25 February 2015 /Revised: 7 May 2015 /Accepted: 11 May 2015 /Published online: 24 May 2015 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015 Abstract Background Sleep disturbance is a common problem for care- givers. In general, patients with Duchenne muscular dystro- phy (DMD) use noninvasive ventilation to maintain quality of life and improve survival. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the sleep quality of caregiver-mothers of sons with DMD and factors that are associated with their sleep quality. Methods We evaluated 32 caregiver-mothers of sons with DMD and 32 mothers of sons without any neuromuscular or chronic disease (control—CTRL group). The evaluation of quality of sleep was made using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results Caregiver-mothers had poor sleep quality, specifically longer sleep latency and reduced sleep efficiency. The im- paired sleep quality of the caregiver-mothers was associated with the length of time of noninvasive ventilation used by their sons. Conclusions Our results suggest that caregiver-mothers of sons with DMD have poor quality of sleep, and the length of use of noninvasive ventilation of their sons is associated with better sleep of caregiver-mothers. Keywords Sleep . Caregiver . Bi-level positive airway pressure device (Bi-PAP) . Duchenne muscular dystrophy . Mothers . Noninvasive ventilation Introduction The importance of caregivers has increased substantially throughout the years. This is due to two main factors: an increase in the prevalence of some conditions that lead to the need for personal care [1, 2] and increased awareness regard- ing the importance of the role of caregivers in some condi- tions. However, such increased importance has highlighted the need for more attention to be paid towards the health and quality of life of the caregivers [3]. The role of a caregiver is associated with emotional, phys- ical, social, and financial impairments [4], leading to particular stress conditions [5]. In general, caregivers tend to be women family members, usually a wife or mother. Caregiving has been linked to sleep disturbance [6, 7]. Poor sleep quality is a common problem that affects caregivers of patients with chronic disease, especially in relation to shorter sleep times, decreased sleep efficiency, longer latency of sleep onset, more frequent awakenings after sleep onset, and daytime fatigue [7]. In caregivers of children with cancer, the caregivers have chronic partial sleep deprivation, poor sleep quality, and im- paired daytime functioning [8, 9]. Approximately two thirds of caregivers have sleep disorders [6]. These sleep distur- bances lead to global health impairment, including mood and alertness disturbances [10] and sleepiness-related acci- dents [11]. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a neuromuscular disorder that causes serious health consequences that include a progressive inability to walk, impairment of the respiratory system [12], and sleep-disordered breathing [13]. Due to these conditions, the full-time presence of a caregiver is required in most cases. Caregiver-mothers of patients with DMD are susceptible to sleep problems, and this, in turn, may affect their quality of life and health. However, the associated factors with this * Monica L. Andersen ml.andersen12@gmail.com 1 Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Napoleão de Barros 925, 04024-002 São Paulo, SP, Brazil Sleep Breath (2016) 20:129–134 DOI 10.1007/s11325-015-1196-9 Sleep quality of mother-caregivers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients Karen T. Nozoe 1 & Daniel N. Polesel 1 & Gustavo A. Moreira 1 & Gabriel N. Pires 1 & Ricardo T. Akamine 1 & Sergio Tufik 1 & Monica L. Andersen 1