Effect of Matricaria Recutita Drop on Sleep Quality in Patients with Chronic Heart Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Context: Heart failure is a common endpoint of all cardiac disorders. Its deep effects on the patient’s individual and social life and its chronic, progressive, and irreversible nature are one of the most important reasons for decreasing the quality of life. Sleep disorders are among the most common problems associated with heart failure. Sleep disorders can be treated and improved, but the treatment is not just through sleeping pills. Due to the side effects of chemical drugs, researchers are now seeking to replace them with herbs such as chamomile plants. Aims: This study aimed to determine the effect of chamomile droplets on the quality of sleep in patients with chronic heart failure. Settings and Design: The study population included patients aged 40–70 years with a confirmed diagnosis of heart failure, an Ejection Fraction (EF) < 40 percent, no smoking and alcohol, a persistence of vital signs, no severe and disturbing pain Sleep, and lack of restless leg syndrome. Also, having any of the following conditions would exclude patients from the study: ill-sickness, patient death, Patient’s transference to the other parts during the study, discharge, history of heart attacks in the last three months, and significant arrhythmia. Methods and Material: This is a double-blind and three-stage clinical trial that was performed on 67 patients with heart failure in two groups of intervention and control in the cardiac ward of the Shahid Chamran Hospital in Isfahan using an easy and accessible method. The intervention group and the control group received chamazule and placebo (including 1 cc of chamazule) and placebo per day for one week, respectively. Statistical analysis used: Data were collected using a questionnaire based on St. Mary's Hospital Standard Sleep Quality Index during one day, three days, and one week after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics and SPSS ver16 software.

Results: Patients were between 40-67 years old. The mean sleep disorder score before the intervention was not significantly different between the two groups (P <0.05), but three days and one week after the intervention, it was significantly lower in the test group than that in the control group (P <0.05). Conclusion: Chamomile drops can be used as an auxiliary treatment for sleep disorders and improve sleep quality in patients with heart failure.