Sleep disorders and work performance: findings from the 2008 National Sleep Foundation Sleep in America poll

Abstract

SUMMAR Y Chronic sleep deprivation is common among workers, and has been associated with negative work outcomes, including absenteeism and occupational accidents. The objective of the present study is to characterize reciprocal relationships between sleep and work. Specifically, we examined how sleep impacts work performance and how work affects sleep in individuals not at-risk for a sleep disorder; assessed work performance outcomes for individuals at-risk for sleep disorders, including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restless legs syndrome (RLS); and characterized work performance impairments in shift workers (SW) at-risk for shift work sleep disorders relative to SW and day workers. One-thousand Americans who work 30 h per week or more were asked questions about employment, work performance and sleep in the National Sleep FoundationÕs 2008 Sleep in America telephone poll. Long work hours were associated with shorter sleep times, and shorter sleep times were associated with more work impairments. Thirty-seven percent of respondents were classified as at-risk for any sleep disorder. These individuals had more negative work outcomes as compared with those not at-risk for a sleep disorder. Presenteeism was a significant problem for individuals with insomnia symptoms, OSA and RLS as compared with respondents not at-risk. These results suggest that long work hours may contribute to chronic sleep loss, which may in turn result in work impairment. Risk for sleep disorders substantially increases the likelihood of negative work outcomes, including occupational accidents, absenteeism and presenteeism.

An Official American Thoracic Society Statement: The Importance of Healthy Sleep. Recommendations and Future Priorities

“…The negative impacts of sleep apnea and sleepiness on work performance are also being increasingly recognized. Multiple studies have also demonstrated that therapy of OSA is an extremely cost-effective use of health care resources (78)(79)(80).…”

Shift work: how do the patients cope with it and what should they do?

“…W krajach rozwiniętych z powodu szybkiego tempa życia i niedoboru snu u ponad 40% osób co najmniej kilka razy w miesiącu występuje nadmierna senność, istotnie wpływająca na funkcjonowanie w ciągu dnia. W badaniu wykonanym przez amerykańską Narodową Fundację Snu, oceniającym nasilenie senności Skalą senności Epworth w wybranej losowo grupie 1000 aktywnych zawodowo Amerykanów, nadmierną senność stwierdzono aż u 18% badanych [2]. Problem zaburzeń snu i nadmiernej senności jest szczególnie istotny u osób pracujących na zmianie nocnej, które poza następstwami wynikającymi z niedoboru snu dodatkowo doświadczają trudności wynikających z rozbieżności pomiędzy godzinami pracy i snu a wewnętrznym rytmem snu i czuwania, kontrolowanym przez zegar biologiczny.…”

“…Involuntary episodes of sleep during working hours are more frequent on night shifts. It seems that the probability of making a mistake and causing an accident is even three times higher in the case of shift workers compared to people working in standard hours, and the risk is highest in the early morning when returning from work [12].…”

“…Sleep disorders are also aggravated by strategies used by patients, which help to deal with non-standard working hours, such as drinking large amounts of caffeinated beverages overnight, excessive sleep during the day or napping at inappropriate times of the day. Alcohol consumption, another common way to relax, may help naniu z osobami pracującymi w godzinach standardowych, a ryzyko jest największe we wczesnych godzinach porannych, podczas powrotu z pracy [12]. Jest to związane z faktem, że osoby takie mogą nie doceniać poziomu swojego zmęczenia oraz obniżonej sprawności poznawczej.…”

“…Due to the fast pace of life and sleep shortage, over 40% of people from developed countries experience excessive sleepiness at least several times a month, which significantly affects daytime functioning. In a study conducted by the American National Sleep Foundation, assessing the severity of sleepiness with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in a randomly selected group of 1000 working Americans, excessive sleepiness was found in 18% of the examined individuals [2]. The problem of sleep disorders and excessive sleepiness is particularly important in night shift workers who, in addition to the consequences of sleep deprivation, are also experiencing difficulties resulting from divergence between work-sleep time and the internal sleepwake rhythm controlled by the biological clock.…”