Association between sleep disturbances and abdominal symptoms

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Sleep Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a known cause of sleep disturbances.
• The relationship between other abdominal symptoms and sleep disorders remains unclear.
• This study investigates daytime sleepiness in relation to various abdominal symptoms in a general population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between daytime sleepiness and common abdominal symptoms.
• To identify specific abdominal symptoms linked to sleep disturbances.
• To understand these relationships in a non-clinical population.

Main Methods:

• 2,936 subjects undergoing health check-ups were analyzed.
• Abdominal symptoms were assessed using the Izumo scale.
• Daytime sleepiness was measured using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

Main Results:

• GERD-like, functional dyspepsia (FD)-like, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms were present in 7.9%, 8.6%, and 18% of subjects, respectively.
• Higher ESS scores were observed in subjects with GERD-, FD-, and IBS-like symptoms compared to asymptomatic individuals.
• FD and IBS symptoms, along with GERD, were significant predictors of sleep disturbances, with multiple symptoms correlating with higher ESS scores.

Conclusions:

• Functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, in addition to GERD, are strongly associated with sleep disturbances.
• Daytime sleepiness is a key indicator of sleep disturbances linked to these digestive conditions.
• These findings emphasize the impact of common gastrointestinal issues on sleep quality in the general population.