OBJECTIVES: Sleep disturbances are frequently associated with common medical problems. Patients with chronic medical conditions often get fewer hours of sleep and less restorative sleep than healthy individuals. Hence, our study aimed to identify the possible association of sleep quality and work productivity with medical illnesses and related medication use.

METHODS: This is a community based cross sectional study which was carried out for a duration of 6 months in urban and rural community of Karnataka, India. Patients who are 18 years and older and who are working more than 26 hours per week were included in the study. Sleep quality and work productivity was assessed through Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire (PSQI) and Work Role Functioning questionnaire (WRFQ) scores along with effect of medical illnesses on sleep quality and work productivity. Statistical analysis was done using independent t-test and one way ANOVA.

RESULTS: A total of 600 subjects were included in the study, of which 87(14.5%) were found to have various medical illnesses. Subjects with both T2DM and hypertension showed poor sleep quality (66.6%), followed by hypothyroidism (50%), hypertension only (40%) and T2DM group only (23%). Amlodipine has poor sleep quality with the prevalence of 80% followed by metformin and thyroid hormone supplement with 52% and 50% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant use of various medications and certain medical illnesses could play major role in the sleep quality and work productivity. Detection and management of such problems through therapeutic interventions and life style modifications would be beneficial in better patient outcome. Further large cohort studies should be performed to establish a definite relation of medical illnesses with sleep quality and work productivity.