Health Burden of Night-Shift Work Among Polysomnography Technologists in India: A Cross-Sectional Study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: Polysomnography technologists perform overnight sleep studies requiring continuous patient monitoring, technical management of diagnostic equipment, and sustained attention.Although night-shift work has been associated with adverse health outcomes among healthcare workers, the occupational health burden among polysomnography technologists remains poorly characterized in India.This study evaluated sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, burnout-related symptoms, musculoskeletal symptoms, and selected cardiometabolic indicators and examined their associations with years of night-shift work experience.Methods: This cross-sectional observational study used an online structured questionnaire distributed through professional groups to polysomnography technologists working in private hospitals and sleep centers in South India.Participants were graduates with at least six months of night-shift experience.Of 196 responses, 16 were excluded for less than six months of night-shift experience and 30 for incomplete questionnaires, leaving 150 participants for analysis.The questionnaire included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), and musculoskeletal assessment.Height and weight were measured by participants.Blood pressure was manually assessed, while fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were obtained from recent laboratory reports.Poor sleep quality was defined as PSQI >5 and excessive daytime sleepiness as ESS >10.The CBI was analyzed continuously and categorized operationally as 0-49, 50-74, and 75-100.Years of night-shift work experience were analyzed as a continuous exposure and categorized as ≤5 versus >5 years.Multivariable logistic regression was adjusted for age, sex, and BMI.Results: Mean age was 29.97 ± 4.43 years, and BMI was 24.16 ± 3.19 kg/m².Mean PSQI, ESS, and CBI scores were 7.09 ± 2.95, 9.20 ± 3.39, and 45.99 ± 20.95, respectively.Poor sleep quality occurred in 97 (64.7%), excessive daytime sleepiness in 56 (37.3%), and musculoskeletal symptoms in 126 (84.0%).CBI scores were categorized as 0-49 in 86 (57.3%), 50-74 in 48 (32.0%), and 75-100 in 16 (10.7%).Hypertension-range blood pressure was identified in 21 (14.0%) and prediabetes in 11 (7.3%).Each additional year of night-shift work experience was associated with higher odds of poor sleep quality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.433, 95% CI: 1.118-1.835),excessive daytime sleepiness (aOR: 1.205, 95% CI: 1.001-1.450),CBI ≥50 (aOR: 1.810, 95% CI: 1.350-2.428),musculoskeletal symptoms (aOR: 1.372, 95% CI: 1.003-1.878),lower-back symptoms (aOR: 1.296, 95% CI: 1.051-1.598),neck symptoms (aOR: 1.272, 95% CI: 1.043-1.552),and hypertension-range blood pressure (aOR: 1.387, 95% CI: 1.052-1.829).No significant associations were observed with shoulder symptoms or prediabetes.Conclusion: Polysomnography technologists reported frequent poor sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, burnout-related symptoms, and musculoskeletal symptoms.More years of night-shift work experience were associated with several adverse health outcomes after adjustment for age, sex, and BMI.These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the cross-sectional design and potential residual confounding.Prospective multicenter studies are warranted.
Source: Cureus
Institution: Father Muller Medical College Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7222736187