The Effect of Sleep Hygiene on the Incidence of Cardiac Dysrhythmia in Patients with Myocardial Infarction Hospitalized in Critical Care Units: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Patients in cardiac care unit (CCU) have some degree of sleep disorders that may consequently increase the risk of dysrhythmia in these patients. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of sleep hygiene on the incidence of cardiac dysrhythmia in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) hospitalized in CCUs. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 62 patients with MI who lacked sleep disorders before admission were assessed using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index and a researcher-made sleep hygiene questionnaire. The patients were selected consecutively and then randomly allocated into the intervention and control groups to either receive the sleep hygiene training or routine care. All patients were under the cardiac monitoring on the second and third days of their hospitalization. Then, the number of PVCs and PACs was recorded during a 6-hour period in these two days. Data were analyzed by chi-square test, independent samples t-test, and Paired t-test. Results: On the third day, the number of PVC (2.06 +/- 0.04) and PAC (0.87 +/- 0.02) was significantly less in the intervention group than the control group (4.45 +/- 3.71 and 2.68 +/- 2.53, respectively) (P < 0.01). Unlike the control group, in the intervention group, the number of PVC (2.06 +/- 0.04 vs. 4.74 +/- 0.07, P < 0.01) and PAC (0.87 +/- 0.02 vs. 2.91 +/- 0.05, P < 0.05) on the third day significantly reduced compared to the second day. Conclusions: Performing sleep hygiene principles can reduce the incidence of dysrhythmia after MI. Therefore, nurses can use sleep hygiene practices in combination with other treatments to reduce the incidence of dysrhythmia after MI.