Functional Dyspepsia Among Nurses Working Rotating Shifts: Its Prevalence and Associations With Sleep Quality and Stress

Background and objective Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders that frequently impairs quality of life. Among healthcare professionals, shift work may heighten the risk of developing this condition, likely through its impact on stress levels and sleep quality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of FD among nurses working rotating shifts in India and to examine its relationship with sleep quality and perceived stress. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi (January 2022-March 2023). The participating nurses (n=100) completed standardized questionnaires, including the Rome IV criteria for FD diagnosis, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). Statistical analyses included chi-square tests to evaluate associations. Results The prevalence of FD in the cohort was 31%, with 12% reporting postprandial distress syndrome (PDS), 10% epigastric pain syndrome (EPS), and 9% both. Poor sleep quality (PSQI ≥5) was observed in 53% of participants, while 50% reported high/very high stress levels as per PSS-10. Significant correlations emerged between FD and poor sleep (74.2% vs. 43.5% in non-FD, p=0.003) and high stress (83.8% vs. 34.7%, p<0.001). Similar trends were observed for PDS and EPS individually. No gender-based differences in FD prevalence were identified. Conclusions Rotating shift work is associated with a high FD prevalence (31%) among nurses, surpassing both the estimated prevalence in the general Indian population (30.4%) and figures reported in other countries. Poor sleep quality and elevated stress levels were strongly linked to FD, highlighting occupational health risks in healthcare shift workers. These findings underscore the need for workplace interventions targeting sleep hygiene and stress management. Future longitudinal studies with control groups are warranted to establish causal relationships and devise preventive strategies.