Sleep duration and daytime sleepiness in a large sample of Brazilian high school adolescents

To investigate the prevalence and main factors associated with short and long sleep duration and excessive daytime sleepiness in Brazilian adolescents.

This was a cross-sectional study of 11.525 students of both genders, aged 14-17 years, from the public high-school system. Sleep duration was assessed by self-report and <8 h of sleep per day was considered short sleep and >10 h, long sleep. Socio-demographic and behavioral factors were investigated through a purpose-built questionnaire and daytime somnolence was assessed by the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS).

The overall prevalence of short and long sleep was 54.7% and 3.3%, respectively. Frequency of short sleep was lowest in the afternoon shift (38.2%) and highest in the morning shift (62.9%) and full-day students (70.0%). Insufficient sleep was more frequent in working (63.0%) than non-working adolescents (53.1%; p = 0.001) and among those who used their cell phone before bedtime (56.3%) compared to non-users (49.7%, p = 0.001). On average, ESS score was higher in subjects with short and long sleep (respectively, 9.7 ± 4.4 and 10.0 ± 4.5) compared to those with normal sleep duration (8.9 ± 4.2; p = 0.001).

Insufficient sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness are very common among urban high-school Brazilian adolescents. Full day and morning school shifts are associated with short sleep and daytime somnolence, suggesting later start times may have a role in reducing sleep loss in these subjects. Older age, work activity, and cell phone use before bedtime, are also risk factors for of short sleep in adolescents. Although less common, long sleep can also be associated with excessive daytime sleepiness.