Effects of lavender essential oil inhalation on sleep quality and fatigue in patients with chronic heart failure: a randomized controlled trial

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome marked by the heart’s insufficient pumping ability, and it is frequently complicated by prevalent sleep problems such as initiating and maintaining sleep. Aromatherapy via inhalation is a safe, non-pharmacological therapy that may improve sleep. Lavender oil, a type of essential oil, is reputed for its calming and sedative properties, but evidence of its effectiveness in patients with chronic HF remains limited. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of lavender essential oil inhalation in improving sleep quality and reducing fatigue levels among patients with chronic HF. Methods and results: An open-label, parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted between March and August 2023. A total of 80 participants were randomized 1:1 to receive either lavender essential oil or fractionated coconut oil (placebo) inhalation for 8 h nightly over 4 weeks, in addition to standard care. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and fatigue using the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), at baseline, Day 3, Week 1, Week 2, and Week 4 (immediate post-intervention). Patient satisfaction and adverse events were assessed. Of 80 participants, 68 completed the study. The experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in sleep quality vs. control group at all time points. Participants who had lavender essential oil inhalation therapy also exhibited significantly lower FAS scores at Week 2 (β = −3.825, 95% CI: −4.955 to −2.695, P < 0.001) and 4 (β = −7.900, 95% CI: −9.725 to −6.075, P < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was higher in the experimental group (9.06 ± 1.24 vs. 6.03 ± 1.10, P < 0.001). No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Lavender essential oil inhalation is a safe and well-accepted intervention for improving sleep quality and reducing fatigue in patients with chronic HF. Larger multicentre trials with objective sleep measurements and longer follow-up are warranted. Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT05862350.