Prevalence of Sleep Disorders among Staff Workers at a Tertiary Health Care Center

Abstract

Background: Due to a demanding modern work style, many people sacrifice sleep by intentionally or unintentionally decreasing the number of sleeping hours or by overlooking their sleep disorders. This study aimed to screen university hospital workers in Saudi Arabia for sleep disorders and estimate their prevalence using a cross-sectional study conducted in 2016.
 Methods: This study used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group diagnostic criteria, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Berlin Questionnaire, and SLEEP-50 Questionnaire. 116 participants were interviewed (56% males; mean age, 30.9 years (SD: 8.5; range: 21 to 58); mean body mass index, 25.79 (SD: 6.10); 40.5% classified as overweight or obese).
 Results: Only 6.9% reported good sleep quality. Insomnia was the most common sleep disorder (72%); sleepwalking was the least common disorder (5%). Women had a higher risk of insomnia, nightmares and circadian rhythm disorders (P = 0.024, 0.015, and 0.009, respectively). A strong relationship between smoking and insomnia was found (P = 0.04).
 Conclusion: The population had much lower sleep quality than other populations. The bidirectional relationship between insomnia and smoking presents an opportunity and emphasizes the need for insomnia management to decrease health and economic burdens.