ASCO20: Is Quality of Life Shaped by Sleep Schedules in Ovarian Cancer Survivors?
Posted: Monday, June 29, 2020
When is the best time for survivors of ovarian cancer to go to sleep? According to Tracy E Crane, PhD, MS, RD, of the University of Arizona, Tucson, and colleagues, women with a history of ovarian cancer may avoid pain by not going to sleep late at night. Their research on chronotypes, the body’s tendency to sleep at a certain time in a 24-hour cycle, reported higher pain levels and overall poorer health outcomes in women who were self-proclaimed “night owls.” The results of the NRG/GOG 0225 study were presented during the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program (Abstract 6018).
“More robust data, including actigraphy, are being analyzed and will provide additional insight of the role of circadian rhythm and phenotype on pain and key biomarkers in ovarian cancer survivors,” wrote the study authors.
Early, mid, and late chronotypes for women with a history of ovarian cancer (n = 438) were assessed by the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index; it corresponded with the women’s self-reported sleep schedule. Early bedtimes were classified as before 9:00 PM, mid bedtimes were between 9:00 PM and 12:00 AM, and late bedtimes were any time after midnight. Questionnaires were used to survey health-related quality of life, diet, and physical activity.
Women with a late chronotype reported higher pain levels than women with an early or mid chronotype (P < .005). Increased pain levels were associated with higher expression of the CRP biomarker, which researchers suggested may lead to higher systemic inflammation and poorer insulin levels.
In terms of diet, eating nutritiously trended toward significance in women with an early chronotype. Conversely, a late chronotype almost correlated with lower-quality diets (P = .06), although more research in this area is needed.
Disclosure: The study authors reported no conflicts of interest.
