ABSTRACT Background: Sleep deprivation is common among medical students and can trigger inflammatory responses. Aim: This study aimed to assess sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), estimate serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and examine their relationship in Indian medical students. Materials and Methods: This 18-month cross-sectional study took place at a medical college. A total of 450 undergraduate MBBS students (150 from each of the second, third, and fourth years) were recruited. Participants were assessed with the PSQI. Blood samples were collected from the students and analyzed for hemoglobin (Hb), total leukocyte count (TLC), and serum IL-6. Statistical analysis used: Chi-square tests compared categorical variables, t-tests analyzed continuous variables, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for non-normally distributed data. Spearman’s correlation assessed the relationship of IL-6 to each of the PSQI domains. Regression analyses looked at differences in PSQI scores by gender. Results: Poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5) was found in 61.9% of participants and was more common among females. IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the poor-sleep group than in the good-sleep group. PSQI areas components for sleep latency, efficiency, and disturbances showed positive correlations with IL-6 levels. Conclusion: This study provides empirical data from an under-researched Indian population. It finds a link between poor sleep quality and elevated IL-6 levels among Indian medical students. There is an urgent need for sleep education and the regulation of working hours to foster student well-being, academic success, and patient safety.
Chaudhry et al. (Fri,) studied this question.