Sleep disorders and anthropometric measures in Chilean university students

Abstract

Introduction: To compare sleep habits, insomnia and daytime sleepiness in university students according to anthropometrics measures. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on university students using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Insomnia Severity Index. In addition, anthropometric variables were determined; weight, height and waist circumference. Results: We evaluated 1,275 university students (74% female). Students on average slept at midnight and slept on average 6.4 hours, 77.9% sleep less than recommended, 34.2% had daytime somnolence and 68.5% had insomnia. Regarding insomnia, it was observed that the low weight group presented the highest insomnia score that significantly contrasted with the normal weight group (p=0.04). In the case of daytime sleepiness when comparing by nutritional status, it was observed that obese students are the ones with the greatest daytime somnolence (p<0.05). Finally, there is an association between fewer sleep hours with higher BMI (OR:1.12 (95%CI:1.01–1.991)) and presence of insomnia (OR:2.734 (95%CI:1.324–5.645)). Conclusions: University students sleep less than recommended, have a high prevalence of insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness, in addition, it is obese women who present this alteration more frequently and the highest insomnia score is identified in underweight students. Both a high BMI and insomnia are associated with short-term sleep.