Sleep Disorders in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Kidney transplant is the primary treatment option for end-stage renal disease, owing to its favorable outcomes in terms of survival, healthcare expenses, and overall quality of life. However, sleep disturbances are common among patients with chronic kidney disease and may not always improve after kidney transplant. This review aims to summarize the available literature pertaining to sleep issues in kidney transplant recipients. We conducted a comprehensive search by using PubMed and Ulakbim databases, without imposing any restrictions on publication dates. The primary objective of the search was to identify relevant studies involving the keywords "kidney transplantation," "sleep disorders," and "nursing care." Restful sleep is a key component in the recovery process after kidney transplant. Posttransplant physical conditions should be evaluated in terms of the side effects of surgery and drugs, as well as other factors that may have serious effects on the sleep cycle. The frequency of insufficient sleep before and after kidney transplant was shown to be 37.5% before transplant, 37.5% after 3 months, and 20.0% after 6 months. In addition, both kidney transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients had lower sleep quality than people with normal kidney function. Sleep disorders can have detrimental effects on kidney allograft function, emphasizing the crucial need for systematic screening and management to ensure the survival of both the graft and the recipient. In light of this, it is imperative for nurses to regularly assess the sleep health of transplant recipients and, when deemed necessary, employ specific nursing interventions to address sleep problems and enhance overall sleep quality during the provision of care.