Return to search

The Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Associated with Sleep: A Comparison of the Literature and a Sleep Disorder Sample

The public health significance of sleep extends to both the impact of sleep on health outcomes and the demographic disparities of the experience of poor sleep. Sleep is often under-appreciated as a health factor. The purpose of this thesis is to provide a synthesis of the literature on the epidemiology of sleep and the health outcomes of poor sleep. METHODS: A literature review was conducted and compared to analysis of data from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) sleep assessment study. The PROMIS sample is comprised of 258 individuals who self-reported symptoms of a sleep disorder. RESULTS: Literature revealed that gender, race, marital status, and socioeconomic status are factors that are associated with sleep. The literature also stresses the impact of sleep on several cardiovascular conditions. Among the PROMIS study sample of individuals with sleep disorders, marital status, and socioeconomic status were associated with sleep quality. Correlations were found between sleep disturbance and income, education, and body mass index. Wake disturbance (daytime functioning problems) was associated with diabetes and was correlated with age, income, and education. A diagnosis of insomnia was associated with the Caucasian race, depression, and low income. Obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis was associated with high blood pressure, being overweight or obese, being married or living with a partner, and having an income from $50,000 - $99,999. Restless legs syndrome was associated with having high blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Though the literature and the PROMIS study analysis were generally in agreement, gaps and incongruities exist both within the literature and between PROMIS and the literature. Specifically, the PROMIS sample found no association between sleep and gender. It is important to note that the comparison is between a literature synthesis of sleep in the general population and a data analysis of sleep-disordered individuals. More research is needed to better understand the epidemiology of sleep and the health effects resulting from poor sleep. Suggestions for future research and interventions are provided.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-07262009-162113
Date29 September 2009
CreatorsJohnston, Kelly L
ContributorsChristopher R. Keane, ScD, MPH, Martha Ann Terry, PhD, Paul A. Pilkonis, PhD
PublisherUniversity of Pittsburgh
Source SetsUniversity of Pittsburgh
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
Sourcehttp://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-07262009-162113/
Rightsunrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report.

Page generated in 0.002 seconds