Sleep disorders in a shift worker population sample in Turkey

Aims: This study aims to determine the sleep quality of night-shift workers, determine the prevalence and characteristics of sleep disorders related to shift work, and compare sleep characteristics between shift workers and day workers. Subjects and Methods: The study included 1473 individuals employed in three different areas (health, security, and labor) as shift (78.5%) or day (21.5%) workers in the city of Adana, Turkey. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of 132 questions. The questionnaire included demographic data, education level, socioeconomic status, shift schedule, accompanying health problems, sleep disorders and sleeping habits, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Berlin Questionnaire, and the Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) scale. Statistical Analysis Used: The SPSS for Windows 20.00 software package was used for statistical analyses. Results: Day workers and shift workers exhibited excessive daytime sleepiness in 17.1% and 24.9% (P = 0.004), poor sleep quality in 41.5% and 44.3% (P = 0.374), chronic insomnia in 8% and 16.2% (P < 0.001), RLS in 4.7% and 5.3% (P = 0.818), and sleep-disordered breathing in 7.3% and 7% (P = 0.864), respectively. Conclusions: Shift work significantly compromises sleep quality. In particular, fixed night shifts or rotating shift workers experience relatively higher rates of decline in subjective sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and chronic insomnia compared with day workers.