Prevalence and Associated Factors of Poor Sleep Quality Among ‎adults in Qatar

Mueen Al Ansi,1 Ayman Al-Dahshan,1 AA Alyafei,2 Mohamad Chehab,3 Sami Abdeen,2 Hanan Khudadad,4 Nada Adil,1 Mohamed Aabdien,3 Mohamed Iheb Bougmiza3,5 1Preventive Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical‎ Corporation, Doha, Qatar; 2Preventive Health Department, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar; 3Community Medicine Residency Program, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar; 4Research Department, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar; 5College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, QatarCorrespondence: Mueen Al Ansi, Preventive Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar, Email [email protected]: Poor sleep quality is increasingly recognized as a global public health concern linked to adverse physical, psychological, and occupational outcomes. However, data on sleep quality and its determinants remain scarce in Qatar.Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of poor sleep quality and identify its associated factors among adults attending primary healthcare centers in Qatar.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in six randomly selected primary health centers representing Qatar’s three health regions. Adults aged ≥ 18 years were recruited using multistage sampling. Data was collected through structured telephone interviews using validated tools, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), GAD-2, PHQ-2, Sleep Hygiene Index, and IPAQ-short. Poor sleep quality was defined as PSQI ≥ 5. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors.Results: Among 390 participants, 60.3% were classified as having poor sleep quality. Bivariate analysis showed significant associations between poor sleep and several factors, including female gender, Arab nationality, employment status, chronic disease, tobacco users, anxiety, depression, high perceived stress, and poor sleep hygiene. In the multivariable analysis, independent predictors of poor sleep were smokers (AOR=2.57, 95% CI: 1.43– 4.64), higher perceived stress (AOR=1.1 per unit increase, 95% CI: 1.01– 1.19), and higher Sleep Hygiene Index scores (AOR=1.06 per unit increase, 95% CI: 1.03– 1.1).Conclusion: Poor sleep quality affects a substantial proportion of adults in Qatar and is significantly associated with modifiable lifestyle and psychological factors. Primary care-based interventions targeting stress management and sleep hygiene promotion are warranted.Keywords‎: sleep quality, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, primary health care, stress