Correlates of Common Sleep Disorders among Adults Attending the Family Medicine Department of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State

1.1 BACKGROUND

Sleep disorder complaints are highly prevalent in primary care population. The cumulative effects of sleep disorders have been associated with a wide range of clinical and socio- economic consequences. Despite this, sleep disorders are under diagnosed, under-reported and under treated. This is more significant in sub-Saharan Africa where there is a dearth of research on sleep disorder in primary care settings.

1.2 OBJECTIVE

To screen adults 18 years and above for sleep disorders and determine their socio-demographic and clinical correlates.

1.3 METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2011 in the general outpatient clinics of the Family Medicine Department, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Data was collected from 405 respondents using a structured questionnaire. The Global Sleep Assessment Questionnaire was used to screen for sleep disorders while the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to detect respondents with anxiety and depression. Questionnaire was interviewer administered by the researcher and data analyzed using SPSS 15 Statistical package.

1.4 RESULTS

The overall prevalence of sleep disorders irrespective of type was 84%. Insomnia (55.6%), Excessive daytime sleepiness (46.9%), Parasomnia (35.3%) and Obstructive sleep apnea (34.1%) were the most common types of sleep disorders in this study. Sleep disorder generally was not significantly associated with socio-demographic factors but was more common among civil servants, males and the older age groups. Increasing age was significantly associated with excessive daytime sleepiness and obstructive sleep apnea, while female gender was significantly associated with excessive daytime sleepiness. Anxiety, depression, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, pain, joint problem, were significantly associated with the common sleep disorders.

1.5 CONCLUSION

This study showed that sleep disorders are common in the primary care population especially in this environment. They are also significantly associated with common clinical conditions seen in the general outpatient setting. Screening for sleep disorders among primary care population especially those with anxiety, depression, pain, joint problems, obesity, diabetes mellitus and hypertension is therefore very important to the family physician to be able to care adequately for the varied patients seen in clinical practice.