Objective:Poor sleep patterns are common in undergraduates and may turn them prone to mood disorders, substance abuse and impaired academic performance. The aim of this study was to assess sleep disturbances among medical students, and whether associations with academic performance, depressive symptoms or substance use were present.Methods:Cross-sectional study in which 544 medical students of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia were included. Using a computer-based survey, self-reported variables were assessed, including demographics, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Berlin Questionnaire, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) - IV depression criteria, Grade Point Average (GPA), and substance use. Associations between these variables were obtained.Results:Fifty-four percent of students were women. Poor sleep quality (PSQI>5) and daytime sleepiness (ESS>10) were found in 65% of the population. A higher GPA was more frequent in students with good sleep quality (OR= 2.6 [1.5-4.5]), lack of daytime sleepiness (OR= 2 [1.3-3.1]) and low risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) (OR= 3.1 [1.6-5.9]). DSM-IV depression criteria were fulfilled by 26% of the students and were associated with poor sleep patterns. Energy drinks use was associated with poor sleep quality.Discussion:Poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and depressive symptoms are frequent among medical students and are associated with lower academic performance. The identification of students at risk and the implementation of targeted interventions are warranted. Fostering adequate sleep habits and training on sleep medicine may partly counteract these issues.

El síndrome de apnea-hipopnea obstructiva del sueño (SAHOS) es un trastorno frecuente asociado con secuelas cardiovasculares y neuropsicológicas severas que repercuten en altos costos socioeconómicos para la población.Con anterioridad se estimaba una prevalencia aproximada del 3% al 7% en hombres y del 2% al 5% en mujeres (40-60 años para ambos sexos); sin embargo, en las últimas dos décadas aumentó a 10% en hombres de 30 a 49 años, a 17% en hombres de 50 a 70, a 3% en mujeres de 30 a 49 y a 9% en mujeres de 50 a 70.Se calcula que el 20% de adultos de edad media tiene al menos SAHOS leve y el 80% de los casos permanecen sin diagnosticar, de allí la importancia de sospechar el diagnóstico de la enfermedad.En Colombia se realizó un estudio con la metodología ómnibus que mostró que la prevalencia global de alto riesgo de apnea del sueño, según el Cuestionario Berlín, fue del 19% en tres ciudades —Bogotá D.C., Bucaramanga y Santa Marta— (IC95%: 17.3; 20.8%). Con la escala STOP-Bang, la prevalencia global de alto riesgo de SAHOS fue de 26.9% (IC95%: 24.9; 29%).

Background:Several studies have reported an association between periodontal disease and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, heterogeneity of results suggests that there is insufficient evidence to support this association.Aims:The objective of this study was to identify the association between periodontal disease and OSA in adults with different comorbidities.Settings and Design:One hundred and ninety-nine individuals (107 women and 92 men) underwent polysomnography with a mean age of 49.9 years were recruited.Materials and Methods:The presence of OSA, comorbidities, and periodontal disease was evaluated in each individual. Student's t-tests or Chi-square and ANOVA tests were used to determine the differences between groups.Results:The prevalence of periodontal disease was 62.3% and 34.1% for gingivitis. The results showed no statistically significant association between all groups of patients with OSA and non-OSA patients for gingivitis (P = 0.27) and for periodontitis (P = 0.312). However, statistically significant association was shown between periodontitis and mild OSA compared with the periodontitis and non-OSA referent (P = 0.041; odds ratio: 1.37 and 95% confidence interval 1.11–2.68). The analysis between OSA and comorbidities showed a statistically significant difference for patients with OSA and hypertension (P < 0.001) and for patients with OSA and hypertensive cardiomyopathy (P < 0.001) compared with healthy individuals. Periodontitis was more likely in men with severe OSA and with any of two comorbidities such as hypertension or hypertensive cardiomyopathy. Women with hypertension or hypertensive cardiomyopathy were more likely to have mild OSA, and these associations were statistically significant (P < 0.05).Conclusions:This study identified association between periodontitis and mild OSA and this association was more frequent in women with hypertension or hypertensive cardiomyopathy. Periodontitis was associated with severe OSA in men who showed any of two comorbidities such as hypertension or hypertensive cardiomyopathy.