Depressive Symptoms and Subjective Daytime Sleepiness in a Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Sleep disorders can contribute to the development and worsening of depression symptoms. To understand how depression impacts sleep regulation, models are necessary. This study aims to analyze how depression influences sleep patterns. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the NHANES 2017-2018 dataset, which included 5.088 adults. The primary outcome was the presence of daytime sleepiness among participants with depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 > 4) compared to participants without depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≤ 4). The regression analysis considered the following covariates: age, gender, BMI, and the presence of at least one comorbidity. A secondary analysis examined the severity of depression, BMI > 25, and a history of diabetes or cancer. Statistical analyses were performed using StataNow/BE 18.5. Results: Participants exhibiting depressive symptoms had a significantly higher likelihood of feeling sleepy during the day (OR 4.39; 95% CI 3.83–5.04; p < 0.001). Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) for all included variables: Age (OR = 0.99, log-likelihood = -2911.28); Gender (OR = 1.27, log-likelihood = -2907.12); BMI (OR = 1.03, log-likelihood = -2853.69); At least one comorbidity (OR = 1.69, log-likelihood = -2882.59). The final model confirmed a significant association between depressive symptoms and daytime sleepiness (OR 4.00; 95% CI 3.48–4.61; p < 0.001) after adjusting for confounding factors. Conclusion: There is a significant association between depressive symptoms and daytime sleepiness, underscoring the need for a multifaceted approach to enhance sleep quality, alleviate depression symptoms, and manage comorbidities.