Evaluation of Pre-radiotherapy Sleep Disorders in Patients with Rectal or Anal Cancer

Background/Aim: Radiotherapy and radiochemotherapy are common treatments for rectal and anal cancer.Anticipation of treatment may cause distress and sleep disorders.This study aimed to identify risk factors for sleep disorders.Patients and Methods: In 42 patients with rectal or anal cancer scheduled for radiotherapy, 16 characteristics were analyzed for associations with pre-radiotherapy sleep disorders including age, gender, performance score, comorbidity, patient's or family history of additional cancer/melanoma, distress score, emotional/physical/practical problems, tumor site and stage, surgery and relation to COVID-19 pandemic.Results: Overall prevalence of pre-radiotherapy sleep disorders was 42.9%.Sleep disorders were significantly associated with Karnofsky performance score 60-80 (p=0.044), Charlson comorbidity index ≥3 (p=0.0012), distress score 6-10 (p=0.00012), and more emotional (p=0.0012), physical (p=0.0004) or practical (p=0.033) problems.A trend was found for female gender (p=0.061).Conclusion: Sleep disorders were common in patients with rectal or anal cancer scheduled for radiotherapy.Risk factors can help identify patients requiring psychooncological support already prior to the start of radiotherapy.