Introduction: It is estimated that about 30-70% of college students suffer from insomnia and other sleep disorders including Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). This disease is characterized by repeated episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airways and is associated with multiple behavioral and constitutive risk factors. It is considered that one of the main causes of this sleep disorder could be chronic psycho-physical stress. The consequences of poor sleep quality are various and can adversely affect the patients quality of life by reducing their cognitive and physical abilities. In this regard, several authors have investigated the possible correlation between sleep quality and academic performance in university students. The results in the literature suggest that longer and more regular sleep can be related to better results, instead poor and fragmented night rest is related to lower performances. Aim: The purpose of this research is to assess in a population of Medicine School students the possible risk to OSAS and the distribution of its main risk factors. In addition, the strength of correlation between academic results and self-reported sleep quality was investigated. Materials and methods: to conduct this research, an Epworth Sleepiness scale based questionnaire was administered to all enrolled students of the Medicine School of the University of Padua during the academic year 2021/2022. STOP-Bang questionnaire and a series of specific questions regarding self-evaluation about sleep quality were provided. The academic results were evaluated considering the weighted and arithmetic mean of the exams taken, also the number of daily studying hours were considered. Students enrolled in the first year were excluded because of limited number of examinations taken a the time of this research. A statistical analysis based on a linear regression model was then conducted to understand the strength of association between Epworth Sleepinesss scale and STOP-Bang scores to average mean of the exam results. Results: 248 questionnaires were obtained, about 21% of respondents reported a sleep duration of less than 7 hours and more than half indicated their sleep as not restful. Based on Epworth sleepiness scale results about 37.5% of students have reported excessive daytime sleepiness. According to STOP-Bang results no student was found to be at high risk for OSAS while for only 7% was considered a moderate risk. A significant percentage of respondents reported the appearance of possibile sleep related symptoms such bruxism, headache and snoring. The statistical analysis showed a poor correlation between Epworth Sleepiness scale results and academic performances. Instead, there is a statistically significant association between STOP-Bang and BMI values to students results as their increase was related to a decrease of exam grades mean. However, the degree of association was not sufficient to establish an evidente cause-and-effect relationship. Conclusions: The evidence obtained from this research suggests that a significant number of university students could be at high risk for developing sleep disorders. Although there’s no clear causal relationship, the STOP-Bang score and BMI values are associated to a decrease of academic results. The correct sleep hygiene rules and questionnaire based screening assume great importance also in young adults population considering the consequences to cognitive abilities.
Introduzione: si stima che circa il 30-70% degli studenti universitari soffra di insonnia ed altri disturbi del sonno tra cui la Sindrome delle Apnee Ostruttive del Sonno (OSAS). Questa patologia si caratterizza per ripetuti episodi di ostruzione parziale o completa delle vie aeree superiori ed è associata a molteplici fattori di rischio comportamentali e costitutivi. Si ritiene che una delle cause maggiormente riconducibili a questi disturbi sia rappresentato dallo stress psico-fisico cronico. Le conseguenze di un sonno poco riposante sono numerose ed influiscono negativamente sulla qualità di vita dei pazienti riducendone le abilità cognitive e fisiche. Numerosi autori, a questo proposito, hanno indagato la possibile correlazione tra la qualità del sonno e le prestazioni accademici negli studenti universitari. I risultati presenti in letteratura suggeriscono come un sonno più lungo e regolare sia correlato a risultati migliori, mentre un sonno scarso e frammentato sia riconducibile ad una qualità inferiore delle prestazioni. Scopo dello studio: lo scopo di questa ricerca è quello di valutare in una popolazione di studenti della facoltà di medicina il possibile rischio per OSAS e la distribuzione dei suoi fattori di rischio maggiori. Inoltre, è stato indagato il grado di correlazione tra risultati accademici e qualità del sonno secondo quanto emerso dai valori dell’Epworth Sleepiness Scale e dello STOP-Bang. Materiali e metodi: per condurre questa ricerca è stato fornito a tutti gli studenti della facoltà di medicina dell’Università di Padova iscritti nell’anno accademico 2021/2022 un questionario comprendente l’Epworth sleepiness scale, lo Stop-Bang questionnaire ed una serie di domande per valutare la percezione soggettiva della qualità del sonno. Le prestazioni universitarie sono state considerate in base alla media ponderata ed aritmetica dei voti degli esami sostenuti al momento della compilazione, inoltre è stato considerato il numero di ore giornaliere dedicate allo studio. Gli studenti iscritti al primo anno sono stati esclusi in considerazione del ridotto numero di esami a cui sono stati sottoposti. E’ stata successivamente condotta un’analisi statistica attraverso un modello di regressione lineare per comprendere il grado di associazione tra i valori dell’Epworth sleepiness scale e dello Stop-Bang con la media degli esami. Risultati: sono stati ottenuti 248 questionari, di questi circa il 21% degli intervistati ha riferito una durata del sonno inferiore a 7 ore e più della metà ha indicato il proprio sonno come non riposante. Sulla base dei risultati dell’Epworth sleepiness scale circa il 37,5% degli studenti presenta un’eccessiva sonnolenza diurna. Nessuno studente è risultato ad alto rischio di OSAS mentre solo il 7% è considerato a rischio medio secondo i valori dello STOP-Bang. Una significativa percentuale di intervistati ha inoltre riferito la comparsa di sintomi (serramento notturno, cefalee, russamento) che possono essere correlati ad una ridotta qualità del sonno. L’analisi statistica ha dimostrato uno scarsa correlazione tra Epworth sleepiness scale e risultati accademici, tuttavia, c'è un’associazione statisticamente significativa tra valori di STOP-Bang e BMI con la media dei risultati universitari, per cui un loro incremento comporta un calo sensibile della media dei voti d’esame. Tuttavia, il grado di associazione non è risultato sufficiente a stabilire un decisivo rapporto causa-effetto. Conclusioni: le evidenze ottenute da questo studio permettono di affermare che un numero rilevante di studenti universitari risulta a rischio di sviluppo di disturbi del sonno. Lo score dello STOP-Bang ed i valori del BMI sono associati con un peggioramento dei risultati accademici. Le corrette norme di igiene del sonno e lo screening con appositi questionari assumono maggiore importanza anche nei giovani adulti considerate le conseguenze sulle capacità cognitive.
Correlazione tra qualità del sonno e prestazioni accademiche: studio tramite questionario
VASIC, DIMITRIJE
2021/2022
Abstract
Introduction: It is estimated that about 30-70% of college students suffer from insomnia and other sleep disorders including Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). This disease is characterized by repeated episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airways and is associated with multiple behavioral and constitutive risk factors. It is considered that one of the main causes of this sleep disorder could be chronic psycho-physical stress. The consequences of poor sleep quality are various and can adversely affect the patients quality of life by reducing their cognitive and physical abilities. In this regard, several authors have investigated the possible correlation between sleep quality and academic performance in university students. The results in the literature suggest that longer and more regular sleep can be related to better results, instead poor and fragmented night rest is related to lower performances. Aim: The purpose of this research is to assess in a population of Medicine School students the possible risk to OSAS and the distribution of its main risk factors. In addition, the strength of correlation between academic results and self-reported sleep quality was investigated. Materials and methods: to conduct this research, an Epworth Sleepiness scale based questionnaire was administered to all enrolled students of the Medicine School of the University of Padua during the academic year 2021/2022. STOP-Bang questionnaire and a series of specific questions regarding self-evaluation about sleep quality were provided. The academic results were evaluated considering the weighted and arithmetic mean of the exams taken, also the number of daily studying hours were considered. Students enrolled in the first year were excluded because of limited number of examinations taken a the time of this research. A statistical analysis based on a linear regression model was then conducted to understand the strength of association between Epworth Sleepinesss scale and STOP-Bang scores to average mean of the exam results. Results: 248 questionnaires were obtained, about 21% of respondents reported a sleep duration of less than 7 hours and more than half indicated their sleep as not restful. Based on Epworth sleepiness scale results about 37.5% of students have reported excessive daytime sleepiness. According to STOP-Bang results no student was found to be at high risk for OSAS while for only 7% was considered a moderate risk. A significant percentage of respondents reported the appearance of possibile sleep related symptoms such bruxism, headache and snoring. The statistical analysis showed a poor correlation between Epworth Sleepiness scale results and academic performances. Instead, there is a statistically significant association between STOP-Bang and BMI values to students results as their increase was related to a decrease of exam grades mean. However, the degree of association was not sufficient to establish an evidente cause-and-effect relationship. Conclusions: The evidence obtained from this research suggests that a significant number of university students could be at high risk for developing sleep disorders. Although there’s no clear causal relationship, the STOP-Bang score and BMI values are associated to a decrease of academic results. The correct sleep hygiene rules and questionnaire based screening assume great importance also in young adults population considering the consequences to cognitive abilities.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/32627