Living with heart failure is physically demanding, but the mental toll of constant sleep struggles can make it even harder. A study of 400 patients across six countries looked closely at how insomnia—the inability to sleep well—changed over a year. They found that about one-third of these patients struggled with insomnia from the start.
The researchers tracked different types of sleep issues. While some people saw their symptoms improve, others faced persistent insomnia. For those whose sleep problems stayed constant, there was a much stronger link to high levels of anxiety. These patients also showed lower functional capacity, which is the ability to perform daily physical activities.
Because this was a secondary analysis of existing data, it shows an association rather than a direct cause. However, the findings suggest that checking for sleep issues early on could help doctors better support patients who are struggling with both heart health and mental well-being.
