Investigation of the relationship between sleep quality and air pollution of patients attending family health centers

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to investigate whether the increase in air pollution is one of the factors that reduce the sleep quality of individuals. Methods: Our study, which is a cross-sectional analytical type, was carried out with the applicants to the family health centers determined in the districts of Bayraklı with the highest level of air pollution in İzmir and Karşıyaka with the lowest level of air pollution. It was aimed to reach at least 646 people with the sample calculation of known universe. A questionnaire including Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PUKI), sociodemographic information and a questionnaire questioning some features that may affect sleep quality were applied to the participants. The data of the research were evaluated using the SPSS 25 program. In the statistical evaluation of the data, p<0.05 was accepted as significant. Findings: In our study, a total of 654 participants were reached, 330 in Bayraklı and 324 in Karşıyaka. The mean age of the participants was 44.07±13.86, with 53.2% (n:348) female and 46.8% (n:306) male. 85% (n:556) of the participants had good sleep quality and 15% (n:98) had poor sleep quality. In December 2020, when we conducted the study, the average of the air quality index in Bayraklı district was 55.28, and the average of the air quality index (AQI) in Bayraklı district was 45.52. While the frequency of poor sleep quality of the participants in Bayraklı, where air pollution is measured higher, was 18.8% (n:62), the frequency of poor sleep quality of the participants in Karşıyaka was 11.1% (n:36), and the difference between them was statistically significant (p:0.006). While the mean monthly AQI was 50.22±4.88 in the region of the participants with good sleep quality, the mean monthly AQI was 51.69±4.72 in the region of the participants with poor sleep quality. This difference was statistically significant (p:0.00). When we evaluated the variables affecting sleep quality with the logistic regression model, it was found that using a coal or wood stove at home was the one that increased the risk of having poor sleep quality the most. Using a coal or wood stove at home increases the frequency of poor sleep quality 5.25 times (p:0.00) Results: In our study, in which the effect of air pollution on sleep quality was investigated, an increase in AQI and an increase in the level of PM10, an air pollutant, were found to be associated with an increased frequency of poor sleep quality. Considering the effects of poor sleep quality and increased air pollution on health, the causes of these problems should be determined correctly and solutions should be studied. In family health centers, the sleep quality of the patients should also be questioned and sleep hygiene recommendations should be made. Activities should be organized to increase the knowledge level of health workers who have a lack of knowledge about sleep hygiene.