Search Results (35)

Background/Objectives: Psychophysiological insomnia is characterized by acquired sleep difficulties and/or a state of hyperarousal when falling asleep. This hyperarousal can develop and/or maintain insomnia. In contrast, mindfulness can reduce stress and improve sleep. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the relationship between mindfulness traits (acceptance and awareness), pre-sleep arousal (cognitive and somatic) states, and insomnia symptoms. Methods: A sample of 464 non-clinical volunteers (352 females; mean age 27.89 ± 9.48 years) participated in this online cross-sectional study, completing the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale (PHLMS), Pre-Sleep Arousal State (PSAS), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Results: The acceptance component of mindfulness but not awareness negatively correlated with ISI, as well as PSAS subscales. In a mediation model, acceptance was associated with ISI both directly and indirectly, through associations with cognitive arousal and somatic arousal. Conclusions: This study suggests a possible mechanism by which mindfulness works to influence sleep processes. In particular, acceptance can reduce pre-sleep arousal, reducing the possibility of developing and/or maintaining insomnia symptoms. Full article

Severe fatigue, difficulty falling asleep, body stiffness, cognitive impairment, and widespread pain are some of the primary symptoms experienced by individuals with fibromyalgia (FM), leading to reduced physical function, increased frailty, and elevated fall risk. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Virtual Square Step Exercise (V-SSE) program on physical function, frailty, FM impact, pain, fear, and risk of falling, and fall incidence in women with FM. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 61 sedentary Spanish women with FM. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: V-SSE and the control group. The V-SSE group completed an exercise program based on the V-SSE for 12 weeks (3 sessions/week), while the control group maintained their usual lifestyle and treatment. Physical function was assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG), Four-Step Square (FSST), 6-Minute Walking Test (6MWT), and others. Frailty was assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). FM impact, pain, falls, and fear of falling were evaluated via questionnaires. Significant intergroup differences were only found in the 30 m Walking Test (p = 0.023; E.S. = 0.539), due to worsening in the control group. Although significant improvements were found in other variables in the V-SSE group, Dual Sit to Stand (p = 0.038), FM impact (p = 0.010), pain (p = 0.003) and falls (p = 0.037), these did not remain statistically significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons, nor were they corroborated in the intergroup comparison. A 12-week program based on the V-SSE was not effective in improving physical function, frailty, FM impact, pain, falls, fear, and risk of falling in Spanish women with FM. Full article

Background/Objectives: Impaired sleep is one of the core symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), yet the mechanisms and impact of sleep-related issues are poorly understood. Sleep dysfunctions for patients with ME/CFS include frequent napping, difficulties falling asleep, waking up early, and sleep reversal patterns (e.g., sleeping throughout the day and staying awake throughout the night). The current study focuses on sleep reversal for patients with ME/CFS. Methods: We explored the symptoms and functional impairment of those with and without sleep reversal by analyzing the responses of a large international sample (N = 2313) using the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ) and Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results: We found that those in our Sleep Reversal group (N = 327) compared to those without sleep reversal (N = 1986) reported higher symptom burden for 53 out of 54 DSQ symptoms and greater impairments for all six SF-36 subscales. The most accurate predictors of sleep reversal included age (p < 0.05), body mass index (p < 0.05), eleven DSQ symptoms (p < 0.01), and two SF-36 subscales (p < 0.01). Conclusions: These features provide clues regarding some of the possible pathophysiological underpinnings of sleep reversal among those with ME/CFS. Full article

It remains unclear how sleep health has developed in the general population after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to (1) investigate the prevalence of sleep problems and poor sleep quality and (2) explore the associated sociodemographic and health-related factors in South Tyrol, Italy. A cross-sectional, population-based survey was conducted with a stratified probabilistic sample of 4000 adults aged ≥ 18 years. Sleep quality was assessed using the brief version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the data. A total of 2090 adults (53%) completed the survey. Poor sleep quality was reported by 17.8%, with 28.2% of participants reporting insufficient sleep duration (i.e., six hours or less), 12.7% having problems staying asleep (i.e., waking up to 3–4 times a week and unable to fall asleep again), and 8.7% having problems falling asleep (i.e., >30 min). Sleep problems and poor sleep quality were associated with sociodemographic and health-related factors, including gender, age, mother tongue, chronic disease, and sleep hygiene. Notably, Italian-speaking participants reported poorer sleep quality and greater difficulty staying asleep compared to German-speaking participants, highlighting potential sociocultural influences on sleep health. This study contributes to understanding the unique sleep health challenges in a multilingual region, highlighting the role of sociocultural factors in sleep quality differences between language groups. Full article

Sleep is a crucial physiological process for cognitive, emotional, and physical development during childhood. Despite its importance, a significant percentage of school-aged children experience sleep disturbances, which can impact academic performance and overall well-being. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate sleep habits and disorders in children aged 6–13 years, identifying issues such as difficulties falling asleep, frequent awakenings, and parasomnias, as well as their correlations with daytime consequences. Methods: A structured questionnaire, based on the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), was administered to 100 parents of school-aged children. The sample included participants without diagnosed neurological disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, or chronic illnesses interfering with sleep. The data were statistically analyzed to assess the frequency and severity of sleep disturbances and their correlations with daytime symptoms. Results: Although most children (44.1%) slept 8–9 h per night, 32.4% exhibited bedtime resistance, and 29.4% had difficulty falling asleep. Common sleep disturbances included occasional snoring (44.1%), bruxism (11.8%), morning fatigue (41.2%), and daytime sleepiness (15.2%). Additionally, 23.5% of the children experienced confusion upon waking. The analysis also revealed a correlation between sleep fragmentation and mood alterations or cognitive difficulties. Conclusions: The study confirms the high prevalence of sleep disorders in pediatric populations, emphasizing the need for routine screening during clinical check-ups. Educational interventions on sleep hygiene practices—such as reducing evening screen exposure—and school policies that align with pediatric circadian rhythms could mitigate negative effects. The lack of objective measures such as actigraphy and polysomnography is a limitation, highlighting the need for integrated approaches in future studies. A multidisciplinary approach is essential to optimizing sleep health and overall child development. Full article

Introduction: Bariatric surgery is the mainstay of treatment of obesity, with a proven, long-lasting effect on body weight reduction and remission of co-morbidities. Sleep disorders, including insomnia, and deteriorated sleep quality and duration are associated with obesity, and a reduction in body weight can be associated with a reduction in prevalence of sleep disorders. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on the prevalence and intensity of different sleep disturbances. Methods: This observational prospective study included 80 patients qualified for bariatric surgery who filled in a questionnaire with a set of structured questions about different sleep disturbances, such as difficulties in falling asleep, night awakenings, early morning awakenings, snoring, and nightmares, as well as eating at night and daytime dysfunction, supplemented with Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), before and 6 months after bariatric surgery. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in incidence of night awakenings, with 40.00% of participants reporting night awakenings before surgery and, respectively, 25.00% after surgery. A significant reduction was also observed in the rate of patients who reported snoring, with 60.00% before the surgery and 38.75% after the surgery (p < 0.05). There was a correlation present between estimated weight loss % (EWL%) and reduction in snoring (p < 0.05). The mean total AIS score before surgery was 7.21 and 5.99 after surgery, and the change was statistically significant (p < 0.05). A total AIS score of 8 or more, the cutoff score for insomnia diagnosis according to the Polish validation of the Athens Insomnia Scale, was present in 44.16% of cases before surgery and in 38.00% after surgery (p = 0.52). There was a significant difference in the incidence of awakening during the night score before and after surgery (p < 0.05; CI 0.022–0.341), sleep quality (p < 0.05; CI 0.0105–0.4311), well-being during the day (p < 0.05; CI 0.0273–0.4143), and sleepiness during the day (p < 0.05; CI 0.101–0.444). Conclusions: LSG is observed to have a positive effect on selected sleep disturbances and insomnia remission in patients with obesity, measured by a significant reduction in Athens Insomnia Scale scores in follow-up 6 months after surgery. Additionally, patients after bariatric surgery reported less night awakenings and there was a lower rate of snoring. Therefore, LSG can be considered an effective therapeutic tool for insomnia in patients with obesity. Full article

Background: To assess the prevalence of diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme deficiency caused by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the AOC1 gene in a sample of patients with symptoms of insomnia. Methods: A total of 167 adult patients (>18 years of age) with symptoms of insomnia attended a specialized institute for healthy sleep, in Barcelona (Spain), between May and November 2023, and underwent genotyping analysis of the four most relevant SNP variants, including c.691G>7 (rs2052129), c.47C>T (rs10156191), c.995C>T (rs1049742), and c.1990C>G (rs1049793). Results: Genetic DAO deficiency was present in 138 patients, with a prevalence rate of 82.6% (95% CI 76–88.1%). Difficulties in staying asleep were the most common complaints in 88% of patients followed by trouble falling asleep in 60.5%. More than half of patients suffered from insomnia symptoms every day. Also, 99.4% reported daytime consequences of insomnia, with fatigue (79.6%), mood changes (72.5%), and impaired concentration in 70.1%. When patients were grouped by DAO-score, which reflected the number of heterozygous and homozygous SNPs variants, the group with a DAO-score ≥ 4 vs. 1 showed higher percentages of insomnia-related symptoms, in particular, trouble staying asleep and early morning awakening. These two symptoms were also more common in the presence of the c.1990C>G (rs1049793) variant. Conclusions: This preliminary real-world study presents novel evidence of a potential link between a DAO enzyme deficiency of a genetic origin and clinical symptoms of insomnia, which may suggest the potential benefit of DAO supplementation to improve the quality of sleep in these subjects. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06488027). Full article

For athletes, sleep is essential for recovery and performance. Yet, up to two-thirds of athletes report poor sleep quality. Comprehensive data across all sports disciplines on the underlying causes of sleep problems are missing. We reanalyzed a data set of N = 1004 Swiss top athletes across an extensive array of 88 sports to gain knowledge on the specific deficits in sleep health with respect to gender, sport classes, sport-related factors, and well-being. We found that 18% of athletes were affected by at least two out of five high-risk sleep factors: 9% of athletes slept less than 6 h per day, 30% were dissatisfied with their sleep, 17% showed problems falling asleep within 30 min, 18% of athletes reported difficulty maintaining sleep more than three times a week, and 6% of athletes used sleeping pills more than once a week. We found sleep health strongly linked to overall well-being and mental health (22% showed at least moderate symptoms of either depression or anxiety). Therefore, screening and treating sleep disorders might effectively improve mental health and general well-being as well as performance among athletes around the globe. Full article

Night shift work has been associated with breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer, but evidence on other types of cancer is limited. We prospectively evaluated the association of rotating night shift work, sleep duration, and sleep difficulty with thyroid cancer risk in the Nurses’ Health Study 2 (NHS2). We assessed rotating night shift work duration (years) at baseline and throughout follow-up (1989–2015) and sleep characteristics in 2001. Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for potential confounders, were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for (a) shift work duration, (b) sleep duration, and (c) difficulty falling or staying asleep. We stratified the analyses of night shift work by sleep duration and sleep difficulty. Over 26 years of follow-up, 588 incident cases were identified among 114,534 women in the NHS2 cohort. We observed no association between night shift work and the risk of thyroid cancer. Difficulty falling or staying asleep was suggestively associated with a higher incidence of thyroid cancer when reported sometimes (HR 1.26, 95% CI 0.95, 1.66) and all or most of the time (HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.00, 1.81). Night shift workers (10+ years) with sleep difficulty all or most of the time (HR 1.47; 0.58–3.73) or with >7 h of sleep duration (HR 2.17; 95% CI, 1.21–3.92) had a higher risk of thyroid cancer. We found modest evidence for an increased risk of thyroid cancer in relation to sleep difficulty, which was more pronounced among night shift workers. Full article

A person spends about a third of their life sleeping, and high sleep quality is very important for health. Environmental factors are one of the most important factors affecting sleep quality, and indoor carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration while sleeping has a significant effect on sleep quality. In an indoor bedroom with no open windows and no fresh air system, different numbers of people sleeping will lead to changes in indoor CO₂ concentration. In order to study the changes in sleep quality caused by differences in CO₂ concentration, experimental research was performed. Objective sleep quality data are collected with polysomnography (PSG) and a subjective questionnaire. The sleep quality of the subjects is tested under three different CO₂ concentration levels; the average carbon dioxide concentration of three conditions is 680, 920, and 1350 ppm, which simulate a room with 1, 2, and 3 people sleeping, respectively. Other environment parameters are controlled as follows: test environment temperature is 26 ± 0.5 °C, relative humidity is 50 ± 5%, there is no obvious heat source in the test room, and the radiation temperature and air temperature difference is less than 1 °C. A total of 30 subjective tests were carried out with 10 subjects; the test lasted more than one month. The data subsequently underwent statistical analysis to determine the influence of CO₂ concentration on sleep quality. The results show that as the CO₂ concentration level increased, the sleep quietness and satisfaction of the subjects gradually decreased, the sleep duration gradually decreased, and symptoms such as throat discomfort, dyspnea, dry and itchy skin, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty waking up, congested nose and bad air smell become more obvious. The PSG test results showed that CO₂ concentration has a significant impact on the proportion of the N3 period. According to the group of CO₂ concentration conditions, the mean of the N3 period proportion under the conditions of one person, two persons, and three persons is 20.4%, 17.3%, and 14.4%, respectively. Finally, there was also an increase in turning over or awakening during sleep, indicating that sleep quality was reduced under higher CO₂ concentrations. Full article

Depression and sleep disturbances are highly prevalent health problems that have been suggested to be associated with vitamin D deficiency. This study investigated whether sleep disturbances affect the association between vitamin D and depressive symptoms. A total of 425 patients with depression were included in this study. Spearman correlation coefficients were chosen to assess the relation between vitamin D concentrations and depressive symptomatology (according to the PHQ-9 and HAMD-17 scores). The GLM Mediation Model in the Medmod module for data analysis in Jamovi 2.2.5 was used to analyze the mediation models for sleep disturbances. Vitamin D concentrations were significantly correlated with PHQ-9 and HAMD-17 scale scores. In addition, item 3 was suggested to have a mediating effect between vitamin D and depressive symptoms in the mediating model of PHQ-9, and item 4 was suggested to have a mediating effect between vitamin D and depressive symptoms in the mediating model of HAMD-17. Sleep disturbances (especially difficulty falling asleep) are mediators between vitamin D and depressive symptoms, suggesting that increasing vitamin D levels at the right time to regulate sleep disturbances may improve depression symptoms, yet further research is necessary. Full article

The Mediterranean diet stands as a widely acknowledged and health-promoting dietary pattern, renowned for its notable linkage to the mitigation of noncommunicable chronic maladies. Nonetheless, the existing body of evidence concerning the potential interrelation between sleep hygiene and this dietary regimen remains circumscribed. The main objective was to determine the association between sleep hygiene and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in Chilean schoolchildren from rural public schools in southern Chile. A non-experimental study was carried out, with an analytical, cross-sectional design. A total of 265 students (56.6% women, mean age 13.5 ± 1.8) from a rural community in southern Chile were recruited. Sleep habits were evaluated using Section 6 of the Life Habits and Adolescence Questionnaire, Sleep and Rest, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed with the KIDMED Mediterranean Diet Adherence Questionnaire. The main results indicated that 52.8% of schoolchildren need to improve adherence to the Mediterranean diet and 16.6% have a low-quality Mediterranean diet. A high percentage of schoolchildren have behaviors related to poor sleep hygiene (going to bed late (46%), waking up tired and wanting to continue sleeping (63.8%), and having problems falling asleep (42.6%)). Schoolchildren who got up after 8:30 a.m., those who fell asleep after midnight, upon conducting a comparative analysis of the students based on their sleep patterns, those who woke up tired and those who had trouble falling asleep had a lower level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet compared to schoolchildren who got up earlier than 8:30 a.m., fell asleep before midnight, did not wake up tired, and those who did not find it difficult to fall asleep, respectively. In conclusion, having poor sleep patterns including difficulties in both awakening and falling asleep are associated with less adherence to the Mediterranean diet in schoolchildren from rural public schools in southern Chile. Monitoring these variables and promoting healthy lifestyle habits within the educational community are essential measures. Full article

Poor quality of sleep leads to an increase in severity of the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome and vice versa. The aim of this study was to determine if the poor perceived sleep quality in FM patients could be corroborated by objective physiological determinations. Perceived sleep quality was evaluated (through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) in 68 FM patients compared to an age-matched reference group of 68 women without FM. Objective sleep quality (measured using accelerometry), and systemic concentrations of sleep-related hormones (catecholamines, oxytocin, serotonin, and melatonin) were evaluated in two representative groups from the reference control group (n = 11) and FM patients (n = 11). FM patients reported poorer subjective sleep quality compared to the reference group. However, no significant differences were found in accelerometry parameters, except for a delay in getting in and out of bed. In addition, FM patients showed no significant differences in oxytocin concentration and adrenaline/noradrenaline ratio, as well as a lower serotonin/melatonin ratio. Poor perception of sleep quality in FM patients does not correspond to objective determinations. A dysregulation of the stress response could be associated with the delay in their resting circadian rhythm and difficulty falling asleep. This would be the cause that justifies the perceived lack of rest and the fatigue they feel when waking up. Full article

The COVID-19 restrictions, such as social isolation and disruption of daily routines, can have detrimental effects, including increased stress, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical and cognitive decline among older adults. This study aimed to examine the association between nutritional status, depression, sleep quality, falling asleep at night, and cognitive frailty (CF) among older Thai adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study included 408 older adults with an average age of 70.54 (5.49) years. CF was determined using Fried’s frailty phenotype and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Basic. The Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and geriatric depression assessment were used for assessment. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that participants who were malnourished (OR 3.786; 95%CI 1.719–8.335), depressed (OR 5.003; 95%CI 2.399–10.434), had poor sleep quality (OR 1.613; 95%CI 1.041–2.500), and engaged in difficulty falling asleep (OR 1.809; 95%CI 1.022–3.203) had a higher risk of CF compared to those who did not exhibit these factors. Therefore, malnutrition, depression, poor sleep quality, and difficulty falling asleep were identified as risk factors for CF among older adults in Thailand linked to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is crucial to develop interventions to prevent CF resulting from the mentioned variables. Full article

Sleep disturbances are one of the most frequent health problems in old age, among which insomnia stands out. It is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, frequent awakenings, or waking up too early and not having restful sleep, which may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment and depression, affecting functionality and quality of life. Insomnia is a very complex multifactorial problem that requires a multi- and interdisciplinary approach. However, it is frequently not diagnosed in older community-dwelling people, increasing the risk of psychological, cognitive, and quality of life alterations. The aim was to detect insomnia and its relationship with cognitive impairment, depression, and quality of life in older community-dwelling Mexicans. An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in 107 older adults from Mexico City. The following screening instruments were applied: Athens Insomnia Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire WHOQoL-Bref, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory. The frequency of insomnia detected was 57% and its relationship with cognitive impairment, depression, and low quality of life was 31% (OR = 2.5, 95% CI, 1.1–6.6. p < 0.05), 41% (OR = 7.3, 95% CI, 2.3–22.9, p < 0.001), and 59% (OR = 2.5, 95% CI, 1.1–5.4, p < 0.05), respectively. Our findings suggest that insomnia is a frequent clinical disorder that is not diagnosed and a significant risk factor for cognitive decline, depression, and poor quality of life. Full article