[Evaluation of extrinsic sleep disorders in a population in Valladolid].

OBJECTIVES

To study the prevalence of external sleep disturbances and their influence in sleep quality.

DESIGN

Transversal descriptive study based on personal self-applied interview and the application of the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in 1053 persons selected among the over 18 year old population of the city of Valladolid between September 1997 and August 1998 in relation to different sociodemographics variables, life habits and psychiatric pathologies (anxiety and depression evaluated by Golberg Scale).

RESULTS

Worsening of life quality and sleep efficiency was significantly associated to external disturbances such as coughing, going to the bathroom and nocturnal awakening and, less significantly, to pain sensation, having nightmares, dysthermic sensations and difficulty to breathing. Sleep external disturbances did not affect daytime activity but was associated to an increased hypnotic drug taking.

INTERPRETATION: Sleep external disturbances are one of the most relevant and unknown variables associated to a decrease in sleep quality and, consequently, in life quality.