After conducting qualitative interviews with patients on hemodialysis and newly diagnosed sleep apnea, researchers found many patients experienced disturbed and unrefreshed sleep, Healio reports.

According to Ginger Chu, MN, of John Hunter Hospital, and colleagues, “the debilitating effects of sleep disturbance is profound.”

“The importance of sleep to patients with [chronic kidney disease] CKD was highlighted in a cross-sectional study of 100 hemodialysis patients, which demonstrated that patients were more willing to increase dialysis time to improve fatigue and sleep quality, than to extend life,” the researchers added. “A recent study of a consultation group involving hemodialysis patients and caregivers identified sleep as a top priority, ranked higher than mortality.”

Get the full story at Healio.com.