Combined sleep and nutrition support improved early recovery scores after gastric cancer surgery
In a randomized trial, patients receiving a bundled hospital program had better sleep, nutrition and psychological outcomes than those receiving standard care. The contribution of each component remains unclear.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Patients assigned to the combined program had better sleep scores, nutritional indicators, anxiety and depression scores, and quality-of-life outcomes than the standard-care group at the reported assessment. Because sleep support and nutrition were delivered together, this trial cannot identify which component contributed most or whether the same results would occur with either component alone.
The abstract reports statistical significance without between-group effect sizes, making the practical size of the improvements unclear. Follow-up was brief, and the single hospital setting limits what can be concluded about other care settings.
What researchers found
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Combined sleep and nutrition support versus standard care after 15 days; the difference was statistically significant, but its size was not reported.
What the program included
The sleep program included relaxation training, music, environmental changes and optional short-term zolpidem, alongside enhanced nutritional support. This means the intervention was a package of care, rather than a test of a single non-drug sleep technique.
How to interpret recovery
Both groups improved on several postoperative measures. The abstract reports additional advantages for the intervention group in sleep, nutrition, mood and quality of life, but its results section does not clearly establish an additional pain benefit.
The original publication
Combined sleep intervention and nutritional support to enhance postoperative recovery in gastric cancer: a prospective randomized controlled trial.
Wang G, Pan S
Surg Endosc · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41340004
- Record checked
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