Sleep disorders are not uncommon in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can involve difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep and overall quantity of sleep. There are many possible reasons, which include certain medications, mental health issues (like anxiety and depression), or disordered breathing—all of which are linked to CKD.

In the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, a team of investigators reviewed all available randomized controlled trials on sleep in people with CKD through October 2018.* 

Exploring sleep treatment research

The authors collected and combined published data to find efficient sleep treatment for people with kidney disease, including those treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant.

• They identified 67 “generally small” studies totaling 3,427 adults with CKD.
• Attempted sleep treatments were different medications, psychological support, massage, exercise, education, and acupressure.
• Outcomes were tracked for up to one year, with a median of five weeks.

Lack of firm evidence

No reliable data was found on the effectiveness or safety/side effects of any treatment nor was any good information found on the effects of medications, exercise, relaxation, or interventions aimed at improving CKD-related breathing problems during sleep.

Acupressure was found to potentially decrease the time needed to fall asleep and increase the time spent asleep. Supportive studies, however, were scarce, and the treatment did not stand up in studies that used phony acupressure as a placebo.

Conclusion

The authors concluded that further studies are needed for more trustworthy information on how to increase sleep quality among people with CKD. This “should be a priority,” they said, as easing symptoms is an important part of disease management.

*Natale, P.; Ruospo, M.; Saglimbene, V.M., et al. (2019, May 26). “Interventions for improving sleep quality in people with chronic kidney disease.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.