Sleep time and pattern of adult individuals in primary care in an Asian urbanized community

Abstract

Sleep norms vary between individuals, being affected by personal, communal, and socioeconomic factors. Individuals with sleep time which deviate from the population norm are at risks of adverse mental, cardiovascular, and metabolic health. Sleep-related issues are common agenda for consultation in primary care. This study aimed to determine the sleep time, pattern, and behavior of multiethnic Asian individuals who attended public primary care clinics in an urban metropolitan city-state.Standardized questionnaires were assistant-administered to adult Asian individuals who visited 2 local public primary care clinics in north-eastern and southern regions of Singapore. The questionnaire included questions on demographic characteristics, self-reported sleep time, patterns, and behavior and those originated from the American National Sleep Foundation Sleep Diary. The data were collated, audited, rectified, and anonymized before being analyzed by the biostatistician. Individuals with 7 h sleep time or longer were deemed getting adequate sleep. Chi-squared or Fisher exact test was used to test the association between the demographic and behavioral variables and sleep time. Next, regression analysis was performed to identify key factors associated with their sleep time.A total of 350 individuals were recruited, with higher proportion of those of Chinese ethnicity reporting adequate sleep. Almost half (48.1%) of those who slept <7 h on weekdays tended to sleep ≥7 h on weekends. More individuals who reported no difficulty falling asleep, had regular sleep hours and awakening time, tended to sleep adequately. Those who slept with children, studied, read leisurely, used computer or laptops in their bedrooms, drank caffeinated beverages or smoked had inadequate sleep. Those who perceived sufficient sleep and considered 8 h as adequate sleep time had weekday and weekend sleep adequacy.Sleep time varied according to ethnicity, employment status, personal behavior, and perception of sleep sufficiency. Awareness of sleep time and pattern allows the local physicians to contextualize the discussion of sleep adequacy with their patients during consultation, which is a prerequisite to resolve their sleep-related issues.

Pre-sleep Cognitive Arousal Decreases Following a 4-Week Introductory Mindfulness Course

“…This observation is line with survey data showing that developed Asian nations such as Japan, South Korea, and Singapore have the shortest sleep times internationally, at just under 7.5 hours a night (Walch et al 2016). Separate local studies have found that 44% of adult visitors to local clinics have insufficient sleep on weekdays (Tan et al 2016), and that the prevalence of poor sleep (PSQI > 5) in Singapore is approximately 1 in 4 (Tan et al 2017). These figures notwithstanding, a higher-than-expected 63/96 of our participants reported PSQI scores greater than 5 at baseline, suggesting that poor sleepers were self-selecting into either the mindfulness program or our research study.…”

Prevalence of Insufficient Sleep and Its Associated Factors Among Working Adults in Malaysia

“…8 Our findings concerning smoking and insufficient sleep are consistent with findings from other studies which reported that sleep-deprived individuals tend to smoke and have caffeinated drinks two hours before bedtime. 28,29 Our findings differ from past evidence that young adults are more vulnerable to chronic sleep deficiency and recurrent circadian disruption than older adults, 30 and are at odds with reports which indicate that older adults are less likely to experience issues related to sleep. 22 The presence of children has been found to be a risk factor for insufficient sleep among adults.…”

“… 8 Our findings concerning smoking and insufficient sleep are consistent with findings from other studies which reported that sleep-deprived individuals tend to smoke and have caffeinated drinks two hours before bedtime. 28 , 29 …”

“… 31 A study in Singapore found that adults who slept with children, studied, read leisurely, drank caffeinated beverages or smoked were more likely to experience inadequate sleep. 29 Individuals who reported insufficient sleep were also far more likely to tend to use mobile devices in bed or in the bedroom. 29 At least one past study has listed neighbours as a reason for insufficient sleep, as poorer neighbourhoods may be less conducive environmentally for sleep.…”

“… 29 Individuals who reported insufficient sleep were also far more likely to tend to use mobile devices in bed or in the bedroom. 29 At least one past study has listed neighbours as a reason for insufficient sleep, as poorer neighbourhoods may be less conducive environmentally for sleep. 32 In tandem with the lack of evidence in this regard, neighbourhood factors were found not significant factors for insufficient sleep in our study.…”