Sleep disorders

ABSTRACT

It has been estimated that 20% of adults and children have sleep disorder symptoms and signs. Sleep disorders remain largely undiagnosed in the general population. Increasing evidence suggests that sleep alterations could favor subsequent depression and behavioral disturbances. Regarding high prevalence of sleep disorders in the general population and their effect on mental and physical functions, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence of sleep disorders among medical students in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Assessment of sleep disorders was done by Global Sleep Assessment Questionnaire [GSAQ]. In this descriptive study, frequency of insomnia, daytime sleepiness, non-idipathic insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and paroxysmal leg movement, nightmares, sleep walking and a sense of depression or anxiety was calculated. A total number of 393 medical students, 151 male and 242 female, were recruited. One or more kinds of sleep disorders have been reported by 254 persons [64%]. The most frequent disorder was non-idiopathic insomnia [50.9%]. Frequency of idiopathic insomnia was 29.5%. Prevalence of daytime sleepiness was 21.4%. The least frequent disorder was sleep walking [1.5%]. Subjective sense of anxiety or depression was reported by 109 persons [27.7%]. Only 39 [9.9%] of the respondents had no disorder. Our findings suggest that sleep disorders are frequent in our studied population of medical students. More education about sleep disorders, sleep hygiene, and management of a life style which necessarily includes shift work and long hours of study, may lead to improved sleep patterns in medical students