0840 SLEEP PATTERNS OF AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

Introduction: Reduced sleep quality and duration is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, stroke, cancer and reduced quality of life. We sought to systematically investigate the sleep patterns of African immigrants relocating to the United States. Method(s): Immigrants age 18-65 years of age, born in Africa and residing in the US, who did not have established diabetes or cardiovascular disease were recruited. Sleep patterns before and after immigration and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were collected. Preliminary data on the first 30 patients collected were analyzed. Result(s): Eighty percent of participants reported sleep duration of less than 7 hours, 40% less than 6 hours, and 13% reported less than 5 hours. 46% reported decreased sleep duration after immigration, in contrast to 15% who reported increases sleep in the US. Gender, age, marital status, and education level did not correlate with sleep duration. Poor sleep quality (PSQI >5) was present in 9 of 30 individuals. 76% (23 of 30) experienced bathroom awakenings, 26% three or more times a week. Bad dream awakenings were reported in 8 of 30 individuals. 5 of 30 reported daytime sleepiness weekly or more often and 3 of 30 reported nocturnal respiratory symptoms. Sleep medication was only used by one participant. Both older age and older age of immigration were associated with worse sleep quality (p=0.01 and p<0.01 respectively). Conclusion(s): Short sleep duration is common among African immigrants. Sleep duration commonly decreases upon immigration. Poor sleep quality, nocturia and awakenings with bad dreams were common in our preliminary sample of African immigrants. These problems may be attributable to adapting to a different culture and further study is warranted.