Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Postural Control in Resident Doctors

Abstract

Background:Resident doctors experience chronic as well as acute sleep deprivation (SD). Sleep deprivation is known to cause multiple physiological effects which can be neurological, autonomic, immune, biochemical or even altered gene expression. Objectives:1) To evaluate the effect of sleep deprivation on postural control at different durations of SD,2) to identify the duration of SD after which Postural control is affected, 3) to correlate the subjective assessment of sleepiness and postural control in resident doctors during the 24 h duty period. Methods:One leg stand test was used to measure Postural Control and Pictorial Sleepiness Scale measured the degree of sleepiness 6 hourly in 30 resident doctors during their 24 h duty. Results:Mean one leg stand test score increased with increasing duration of SD. The scores were significantly reduced at SD of 18 h (p< 0.001)., There was positive correlation between pictorial sleepiness scale and one leg stand test score (r = 0.6619). Interpretation & conclusion: Postural control deteriorates in SD, significantly so after 18 h. This might cause medical errors and compromise patient safety.