Assosiasjon mellom selvrapporterte søvnproblemer og infeksjon og antibiotikabruk.
Forskere fra Universitetet i Bergen, Folkehelseinstituttet og Nasjonalt senter for søvnmedisin har i denne studien undersøkt om søvnproblemer som insomni og kort søvnlengde samt døgnrytmepreferanse var assosiert med økt risiko for infeksjoner og antibiotikabruk. 1848 pasienter som besøkte fastlegen fylte ut et spørreskjema om søvnvaner, og om de hadde hatt infeksjoner eller brukt antibiotika de siste 3 månedene. Resultatene viste at kort søvnlengde, kronisk insomni og andre søvnproblemer var assosiert med høyere forekomst av infeksjoner og antibiotikabruk.
Publisert 13.04.2023
Sist oppdatert 01.11.2024
Ingeborg Forthun, Knut Eirik Ringheim Eliassen, Knut Erik Emberland, Bjørn Bjorvatn
Studien er publisert i Frontiers in Psychiatry
Objectives: There is emerging evidence that sleep problems and short sleep duration increase the risk of infection. We aimed to assess whether chronic insomnia disorder, chronic sleep problems, sleep duration and circadian preference based on self-report were associated with risk of infections and antibiotic use among patients visiting their general practitioner (GP).
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,848 unselected patients in Norway visiting their GP during 2020.The patients completed a one-page questionnaire while waiting for the consultation, that included the validated Bergen Insomnia Scale (BIS), questions on self-assessed sleep problem, sleep duration and circadian preference and whether they have had any infections or used antibiotics in the last 3 months. Relative risks (RR) were estimated using modified Poisson regression models.
Results: The risk of infection was 27% (95% CI RR 1.11-1.46) and 44% higher (95% CI 1.12-1.84) in patients sleeping < 6 h and >9 h, respectively, compared to those sleeping 7-8 h. The risk was also increased in patients with chronic insomnia disorder or a chronic sleep problem. For antibiotic use, the risk was higher for patients sleeping < 6 h, and for those with chronic insomnia disorder or a chronic sleep problem.
Conclusions: Among patients visiting their GP, short sleep duration, chronic insomnia and chronic sleep problem based on self-report were associated with higher prevalence of infection and antibiotic use. These findings support the notion of a strong association between sleep and infection.