Comparison of sleep parameters assessed by actigraphy of healthy young adults from a small town and a megalopolis in an emerging country

The analysis of sleep quality and its impact on diurnal sleepiness is a crucial aspect of human health. Modern life in large cities compels people to spend less hours sleeping than they need. A wearable actigraphy that records accelerometry, light and body temperature was used to register the sleep habits of 54 healthy subjects for 14 days. From them, 28 participants resided in a town that could be regarded as a rural environment while the other subjects lived in the largest metropole of South America. The subjects filled three questionnaires to assess sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index — PSQI), sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale — ESS) and chronotype (Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire — MEQ-HO). The subjects were divided in urban and rural groups and several parameters obtained from actigraphy were compared between groups. Overall, the metropolitan group had worse sleep parameters. The total sleep time in metropolitan group was lower than the rural population, as well as the sleep quality parameters such as sleep efficiency. A possible explanation for these differences could be the social and work characteristics imposed in the metropolitan environment, forcing subjects to stay awake longer and away of natural light exposure. Sleep disorders are associated with several health and brain function problems. Therefore, it is imperative to establish changes in daily routine to promote a better sleep quality and prevent sleep disorders.