An investigation into the association between demographic and morbidity factors, and sleep disturbance

Sleep disturbance and quality of life among university freshmen in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China

PURPOSE

University freshmen are particularly vulnerable as they are undergoing the transition from high school to university with a range of changes. Sleep problems among this group in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China were barely studied. This study aimed to explore sleep disturbance, and its association with quality of life (QoL) and demographic and clinical characteristics among university freshmen in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China.

METHODS

A multistage stratified cluster random sampling method was performed to recruit student participants with a structured questionnaire to collect sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and lifestyle behaviors. Sleep disturbance including three aspects of sleep disturbance (i.e., difficulty initiating sleep (DIS), difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS), and early morning awakening (EMA)) was assessed using standardized measurement. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Among included 2,769 freshmen, the prevalence of sleep disturbance was 14.8% (95% CI: 14.2-15.5%), and corresponding prevalence of DIS, DMS, and EMA was 8.2% (95% CI: 7.7-8.7%), 8.3% (95% CI: 7.8-8.8%), and 4.2% (95% CI: 3.8-4.6%), respectively. Freshmen with sleeping disturbance had significantly lower QoL in physical [F _{(1, 2769)} = 60.23, p < 0.001], psychological [F _{(1, 2769)} = 46.18, p < 0.001], social [F _{(1, 2769)} = 23.04, p < 0.001], and environment [F _{(1, 2769)} = 6.07, p = 0.01] domains. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that having breakfast five times a week or less (less than three times, OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.34-2.40; 3-5 times, OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.09-1.79), self-perceived severe Internet dependence (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.11-2.65), self-perceived poor health status (OR = 3.44, 95% CI: 2.06-5.74), high academic stress (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.13-1.78), poor relationship with classmates (OR = 3.44, 95% CI: 1.53-7.71), and severe ADHD symptoms (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.05-1.12) were positively associated with sleeping disturbance.

CONCLUSION

Sleep disturbance was common among freshmen and is associated with poorer QoL. Prevention and intervention strategies should be developed and implemented, especially among the vulnerable university freshman groups.

Association between digestive symptoms and sleep disturbance: a cross-sectional community-based study

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to analyze the association between digestive symptoms and sleep disturbance, and to determine if any digestive symptoms are related to sleep disturbance.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 5792 subjects surveyed in a community-based cohort. Subjects provided information regarding the quality of sleep as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), as well as digestive symptoms as assessed by the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). Logistic regressions were used to examine factors associated with sleep quality.

RESULTS

The mean PSQI global score of the no sleep disturbances group (n = 4948) was 3.92 (SD = 2.14), while that of the sleep disturbance group (n = 844) was 11.18 (SD = 2.17). The association between digestive symptoms and sleep disturbance was evaluated by logistic regression after adjusting for cofounding factors. The results revealed that sleep disturbances were associated with digestive symptoms (aOR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.22-1.36), especially abdominal pains (aOR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.19-2.25), acid regurgitation (aOR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.17-1.86), abdominal distension (aOR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.42-2.28), and eructation (aOR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.24-2.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Digestive symptoms and sleep disturbances seem to be associated. These results will help medical professionals to effectively diagnose and manage patients with sleep disturbance. Furthermore, subsequent studies using comprehensive longitudinal data should be conducted to confirm the results of the present study.