The Association Between Sleep Quality and Metabolic Factors and Anthropometric Measurements

Background: Several studies have shown that sleep disorders may lead to metabolic or endocrine changes including insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between sleep quality and metabolic factors and anthropometric measurements among personnel of a central petrochemical company in Tehran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 personnel of a central petrochemical company in Tehran, during year 2015. Demographic information including age, gender, educational status, employment duration, working hours per day, marital status, smoking, medical history for disease and drug use, were collected by a questionnaire. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and also height and weight were measured by standard methods and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI) was performed to assess participants’ sleep quality. Serum concentrations of fasting glucose and lipid profiles were measured by the related biochemical kits. Logistic regression analysis was used for multivariate adjusting of factors associated with sleep quality. Results: The mean score for participants’ Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was 4.77 ± 2.62. About 30% of participants had had bad sleep quality. A high body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001) and high waist circumference (P = 0.016) were inversely associated with sleep quality. Serum concentration of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (P = 0.004) and triglyceride (P = 0.001) were statistically higher in participants with lower sleep quality than with those with higher sleep quality. The group with a good sleep quality had a higher serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) than those with a poor sleep quality (P = 0.034). Being female increased the risk of poor sleep quality by 2.5 folds, and with increasing BMI (OR = 1.17) and serum triglyceride (OR = 1.02) the risk of poor sleep quality was increased. Conclusions: People with a poor sleep quality had a higher BMI, waist circumference and serum triglyceride levels and a lower HDL-c concentration. Furthermore, BMI and serum triglyceride concentration are independently associated with the score of sleep quality. Indeed, it is recommended for people to screen for sleep quality to start necessary interventions. Keywords: Sleep Quality, Lipid Profile, Serum Glucose, Body Mass Index, Insulin Resistance, Petrochemical Company