Introduction: Emergency physicians (EP) are suspected to have a high prevalence of insomnia and sleep-aid use. Most prior studies about sleep-aid use in EPs have been limited by low response rates. In this study our aim was to investigate the prevalence of insomnia and sleep-aid use among early-career Japanese EPs and assess the factors associated with insomnia and sleep-aid use. Methods: We collected anonymous, voluntary, survey-based data regarding chronic insomnia and sleep-aid use from board-eligible EPs taking the initial Japanese Association of Acute Medicine board certification exam in 2019 and 2020. We describe the prevalence of insomnia and sleep-aid use and analyzed demographic and job related factors using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: The response rate was 89.71% (732 of 816). The prevalence of chronic insomnia and sleepaid use was 24.89% (95% CI 21.78-28.29%) and 23.77% (95% CI 20.69-27.15%), respectively. Factors associated with chronic insomnia were long working hours (odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 1.01-1.03, per onehour/ week), and “stress factor” (OR 1.46, 1.13-1.90). Factors associated with sleep-aid use were male gender (OR 1.71, 1.03-2.86), unmarried status (OR 2.38, 1.39-4.10), and “stress factor” (OR 1.48, 1.13-1.94). The “stress factor” was mostly influenced by stressors in dealing with patients/families and co-workers, concern about medical malpractice, and fatigue. Conclusions: Early-career EPs in Japan have a high prevalence of chronic insomnia and sleep-aid use. Long working hours and stress were associated with chronic insomnia, while male gender, unmarried status, and stress were associated with the use of sleep aids.

The Thyroid Storm (TS) is the severest form of thyrotoxicosis and is associated with a high mortality rate. TS presents with fever, tachycardia, gastrointestinal symptoms, and central nervous system dysfunction and may be overlooked if patients do not present thyrotoxic symptoms or have precipitating factors. We reported a pediatric case of TS with mild proptosis but no obvious precipitating factors in a previously healthy child. A 9-year-old, female patient with a history of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder presented with the complaint of frequent vomiting. She was alert but lethargic with fever and tachycardia. Physical examination was unremarkable except for coolness in the extremities and a delayed capillary refill time of two seconds. Fluid resuscitation was ineffective in alleviating the tachycardia. Additional history-taking revealed a one-month history of mild proptosis but no other thyrotoxic findings or precipitating factors were found. Markedly elevated thyroxine and triiodothyronine and suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone on thyroid function tests led to a diagnosis of TS. Methimazole, potassium iodine, bisoprolol, and hydrocortisone were administered. Her vital signs and thyroid functions gradually improved, and she was discharged 18 days after admission without any serious complications. She is currently euthyroid and clinically stable on 5 mg of methimazole at three months after admission. When tachycardia that is resistant to usual resuscitation is found, careful history-taking and physical examination targeting thyroid disorders should be performed to assess for TS.

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