Sleep Disorders in Medical Workers in Georgia and Correlations with Morbidity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52340/spectri.2025.12.02.10Keywords:
chronic insomnia, work stress, burnout, morbidityAbstract
Being a doctor requires special work skills under high pressure of responsibility for human life, the ability to cope with stress, working at night and continuous training.
The aim of the study is to determine the correlations between sleep disorders and morbidity in medical workers in Georgia.
Material and methods: We studied the characteristics of sleep disorders and morbidity in the population of medical workers in Georgia using a self-administered questionnaire, 471 people participated in the study.
We studied: sleep characteristics, morbidity rates, socio-demographic factors. Correlation analysis was performed using Spearman's rank correlation, and in all cases the results were considered significant when p<0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 23 software package.
Results:
Correlation analysis showed that various sleep disorders in Georgian medical personnel were associated with both demographic and professional, lifestyle and health-related factors.
Chronic insomnia was significantly associated with living without a partner (r=0.240; p=0.001), working in an administrative position (r=0.166; p=0.026), work-related stress (r=0.156; p=0.036), being thin (r=0.148; p=0.047), neuropathies (r=0.175; p=0.019), epilepsy (r=0.167; p=0.024), pancreatitis (r=0.167; p=0.024), hyperthyroidism (r=0.167; p=0.024), depression (r=0.315; p<0.001), history of brain injury (r=0.291; p<0.001), and anemia. (r=0.240; p=0.001). In addition, good self-esteem was negatively associated with chronic insomnia (r=-0.157; p=0.034), indicating that insomnia was less common in individuals with better self-esteem.
Shift work-related sleep disturbance was most strongly associated with working more than 48 hours per week (r=0.258; p<0.001), transient ischemic attack (r=0.257; p<0.001), hypothyroidism (r=0.240; p=0.001), hyperthyroidism (r=0.248; p=0.001), other respiratory diseases (r=0.240; p=0.001), gallstone disease (r=0.204; p=0.006), overweight (r=0.202; p=0.007), night shift work (r=0.188; p=0.012), varicose veins of the lower extremities (r=0.186; p=0.012), fast food (r=0.171; p=0.001), p=0.021), consumption of simple carbohydrates (r=0.157; p=0.036) and synthetic drinks (r=0.162; p=0.030), as well as heart failure (r=0.160; p=0.032). Poor or satisfactory self-rated health and non-treatment were also positively associated with this disorder.
Delayed sleep phase syndrome was significantly associated with previous pneumonia (r=0.261; p<0.001), trans fat consumption (r=0.244; p=0.001), living in the Racha-Lechkhumi/Kvemo Svaneti region (r=0.238; p=0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (r=0.167; p=0.024), work-related stress (r=0.168; p=0.023), and fast food consumption (r=0.171; p=0.021).
Conclusion: Sleep disorders in Georgian medical personnel are associated with occupational, behavioral factors, and morbidity.
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