Sleep quality and quality of life perception in orchestra musicians

Background: The health and work conditions of professional musicians have been little investigated. Objectives: Identify the frequency of poor sleep quality in a group of orchestra musicians and examine possible associations with the variables of perception of overall quality of life. Method: The sleep quality, the chronotype and overall quality of life were evaluated by mean questionnaire of Pittsburgh, Horne-Ostberg e WHOQOL-bref, respectively, at 22 musicians (17 men and five women) in an orchestra. Results: The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 71%. The dimensions most associated with quality of sleep were the ability to perform activities of day-to-day (p = 0.003) and labor (p = 0.004), pain and discomfort (p = 0.006), satisfaction with personal relationships (p = 0.007) and the ability to enjoy life (p = 0.008). The physical analysis of quality of life was the greatest explanatory power for the sleep quality (34%). The chronotype and hours of sleep do not show association with the quality of sleep. Discussion: We found a high frequency of poor sleep quality among orchestra musicians. Measures to promote sleep quality in this population should prioritize the variables related to quality of life in its physical aspect.