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Uncovering the sleep disorders among young doctors

  • Sleep Breathing Physiology and Disorders • Original Article
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Abstract

Purpose

Sleepiness and tiredness are common complaints among young doctors. Sleep deprivation is believed to be the main culprit. However, we believe that there may be other sleep disorders which may contribute to these symptoms such as occult obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods

A prospective cross-sectional study was performed among young doctors less than 40 years old, working at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, and Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using questionnaires and home sleep apnea testing (Apnealink™Plus). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of OSA (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5). The secondary objectives were to evaluate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) defined by AHI ≥5 + excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), sleep deprivation (the difference of weekend (non-workdays) and weekday (workdays) wake-up time of at least 2 h), EDS (Epworth Sleepiness Scale score ≥10), tiredness, and perception of inadequate sleep as well as to identify their predictors.

Results

Total of 52 subjects completed the study. Mean age and mean body mass index (BMI) were 31.3 ± 4 and 23.3 ± 3.6, respectively. The prevalence of OSA and OSAS were 40.4 and 5.8 %, respectively. One third of OSA subjects were at least moderate OSA. Prevalence of sleep deprivation, EDS, tiredness, and perception of inadequate sleep were 44.2, 15.4, 65.4, and 61.5 %, respectively. History of snoring, being male, and perception of inadequate sleep were significant predictors for OSA with the odds ratio of 34.5 (p = 0.016, 95 % CI = 1.92–619.15), 18.8 (p = 0.001, 95 % CI = 3.10–113.41), and 7.4 (p = 0.037, 95 % CI = 1.13–48.30), respectively. Only observed apnea was a significant predictor for OSAS with odds ratio of 30.7 (p = 0.012, 95 % CI = 2.12–442.6). Number of naps per week was a significant predictor for EDS with the odds ratio of 1.78 (p = 0.007, 95 % CI = 1.17–2.71). OSA and total number of call days per month were significant predictors for tiredness with the odds ratio of 4.8 (p = 0.036, 95 % CI = 1.11–20.72) and 1.3 (p = 0.050, 95 % CI = 1.0004–1.61), respectively. OSA was the only significant predictor for perception of inadequate sleep with the odd ratios of 4.5 (p = 0.022, 95 % CI = 1.24–16.59).

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated relatively high prevalence of OSA and OSAS among young doctors. Snoring, being male, and perception of inadequate sleep were significant predictors for OSA. Observed apnea was a significant predictor for OSAS. OSA was a significant predictor for tiredness and perception of inadequate sleep.

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Acknowledgments

Apnealink™Plus devices were provided by ResMed Limited. However, the company has no impact on study design or interpretation of the result of the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Rashidah Yasin & Naricha Chirakalwasan

  2. Excellence Center for Sleep Disorders, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand

    Rashidah Yasin, Dittapol Muntham & Naricha Chirakalwasan

  3. Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Rashidah Yasin

  4. Oriental Melaka Straits Medical Center, Pusat Perubatan Klebang, 75200, Melaka, Malaysia

    Rashidah Yasin

  5. Section for Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand

    Dittapol Muntham

  6. Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi, 60 Moo 3 Asian Highway, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya, 13000, Thailand

    Dittapol Muntham

  7. King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, 1873 Rama 4 Road, Bangkok, Pathumwan, 10330, Thailand

    Naricha Chirakalwasan

Authors
  1. Rashidah Yasin
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  2. Dittapol Muntham
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  3. Naricha Chirakalwasan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Naricha Chirakalwasan.

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Funding

No funding was received for this research.

Conflict of interest

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements) or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Yasin, R., Muntham, D. & Chirakalwasan, N. Uncovering the sleep disorders among young doctors. Sleep Breath 20, 1137–1144 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-016-1380-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-016-1380-6

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