PD735 - LINKING DIET AND SLEEP: THE ROLE OF MEDITERRANEAN DIET IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

PD735

LINKING DIET AND SLEEP: THE ROLE OF MEDITERRANEAN DIET IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

E. Melekoglu¹, G. Saban-Bozan^2,*, A. Aykut³, M. S. Erayman³, E. Bayram³

¹Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Cukurova University, Adana, ²Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Nuh Naci Yazgan University, Kayseri, ³Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Cukurova University, Adana, Türkiye

Rationale: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) has been associated with reduced cancer risk and improved metabolic and inflammatory profiles. Sleep quality is another modifiable factor increasingly linked to cancer outcomes. However, the relationship between MD adherence and sleep quality in breast cancer patients remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate this association in a case–control design.

Methods: A total of 114 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and 106 healthy controls were included. Dietary intake was assessed using the MD Adherence Score, and sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Between-group comparisons were performed using appropriate statistical tests, ROC curve analysis was conducted to assess the discriminatory ability of the MD Adherence Score for cancer presence.

Results: The MD Adherence Score was significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (6.49±2.35 vs. 8.61±2.15, p<0.001). ROC analysis demonstrated that the score had good discriminatory ability for cancer presence (AUC=0.760; 95% CI: 0.695–0.825), with an optimal cut-off value of ≤8.50 (sensitivity 77.2%, specificity 72.6%; p<0.001). Sleep quality was significantly poorer in the case group, with higher PSQI total and component scores (all p < 0.05). When stratified by MD adherence, individuals with higher adherence (score >8.50) had significantly better sleep quality, including lower PSQI total scores (2.50 ± 3.34 vs. 5.66 ± 4.39, p<0.001), shorter sleep latency, and fewer sleep disturbances. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was markedly higher in the low-adherence group compared with the high-adherence group (41.9% vs. 2.7%, p< 0.001).

Conclusion: Lower adherence to the MD is associated with poorer sleep quality in women with breast cancer. The MD Adherence Score demonstrated good discriminatory performance for cancer presence and was strongly associated with sleep parameters.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared