Sleep habits and excessive daytime sleepiness correlate with injury risks in the general population in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between sleeping habits, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and different injury risks in the general population of Taiwan.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional national data from the Taiwan Social Trend Survey conducted in 2005 by interviews using validated inventories.

SETTING

Population-based face-to-face interviews at participants' residences.

PARTICIPANTS

36,473 Taiwanese citizens aged 15 years or older.

EXPOSURE MEASURES

Self-reported EDS was measured using the Epworth sleepiness scale. Other sleep-related problems investigated included self-reported sleep quality (assessed by the insomnia self-assessment inventory) and self-reported inadequate sleep duration (<7 h).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Self-reported major injuries that required medical attention.

RESULTS

Considering all sleep-related problems together, multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that EDS and poor sleep quality were significant predictors of higher risks of various injuries. EDS predicted major traffic injuries (odds ratio (OR) 1.62, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.02) and major fall injuries (OR 1.49, 95% CI1.20 to 1.84). Those with poor sleep quality tended to have traffic injuries (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.41 to 1.99) and major fall injuries (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.07).

CONCLUSIONS

EDS and sleep quality are associated with the occurrence of a variety of injuries in Taiwan's general population.