Studies on sleep status of plateau garrison troops and chronic mountain sickness: A correlation analysis

[Abstract] (cid:542) Objective (cid:542) To investigate the sleep status of troops stationed in highland areas, and approach its correlation with chronic mountain sickness (CMS). Methods (cid:542) Stratified-random sampling method was employed and 956 male soldiers stationed a male soldiers the troops Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) the sleep status of the soldiers and CMS symptom questionnaire combined with physiological was adopted to determine the existence of CMS and its severity. Physiological parameters and PSQI scores were studied and compared between soldiers in the plateau group as well as its two subgroups (healthy subgroup and CMS subgroup) and those in the control group. Correlation analysis between PSQI and CMS scores and physiological parameters, as well as between PSQI of sleep quality and CMS scores of soldiers stationed at plateau were carried out. Differences of PSQI scores and physiological parameters among the three CMS subgroups (healthy subgroup, mild subgroup and moderate and severe subgroup) were analyzed. Results (cid:542) The systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration were significantly higher ( P <0.05), while the oxyhemoglobin (SpO 2 ) was significantly lower in plateau group than in control group ( P <0.05). All the PSQI scores were higher in plateau group than in control group ( P <0.05). the soldiers in plateau group, the SBP, HR, SpO 2 and Hb concentration significantly in those of healthy subgroup and the CMS subgroup those in the control group ( P <0.05). diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in of the CMS subgroup group P for the index of sleep medication, other PQSI indexes were all significantly higher in both healthy subgroup and CMS subgroup of the plateau group than in those of the control group ( P <0.05). In the plateau group, significantly negative correlation was found between the scores of sleep time and SBP, and of sleep efficiency and HR ( P <0.05); while significantly positive correlation was found between the scores of sleep time and arterial oxyhemoglobin (SpO 2 , P <0.05). CMS score showed significantly positive correlation with SBP, DBP, HR and Hb concentration ( P <0.05), while significantly negative correlation with SpO 2 ( P <0.05). Except for the index of sleep medication, all the PSQI scores were significantly positively correlated with CMS score ( P <0.05). For soldiers in the three CMS subgroups of the plateau group, the SpO 2 was significantly lower ( P <0.05), while the Hb concentration was significantly higher in the mild subgroup and the moderate and severe subgroup than in those of the healthy subgroup ( P <0.05). Sleep disorder and PSQI total scores were significantly higher in the mild subgroup and the moderate and severe subgroup than in those of the healthy subgroup ( P <0.05). Scores of sleep quality, sleep time, sleep efficiency and daily dysfunction were significantly higher in the moderate and severe subgroup than in those of the healthy subgroup and the mild subgroup ( P <0.05). Conclusions (cid:542) Sleep quality of soldiers continuously stationed in plateau is significantly worse than those of control group because not only of the plateau life and work experience, but also of the CMS. Sleep quality, especially the sleep efficiency, sleep disorders and PSQI total score get worse with the increased severity of CMS. Prevention and treatment of CMS should be strengthened when improving the sleep quality of soldiers stationed at plateau.