Poor sleep quality, cardiometabolic risk factors and physical activity, among paramedical staff in Douala,Cameroon

Background: Paramedical personnel used to night shift predisposing them to poor sleep (PS) and its health consequences. Their work requests an important physical demand associated to physical activity (PA). Objectives: This study aimed at determining prevalence of PS, its association with cardiometabolic risk factors (CFRs), and PA among paramedical staff. Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses and medical-health technicians (MTH) in reference hospitals of Douala, Cameroon. PS and PA were assessed with standard questionnaires. CFRs included overweight, obesity, waist circumference (WC), Waist-to-height ratio (WhtR), Waist-to-hip ratios (WhR), hyperglycemia and sedentary behaviors. Results: A total of 331 participants were enrolled, including 53.4% nurses. The overall prevalence of PS was 68.3% (95%CI:63.01-73.01). PS was higher in women (73.5%,95%CI:67.3-78.8, p=0.04 ) and nurses (58.8%; 95%CI: 52.3-65.1, p=0.01 ). Among participants with PS, more than half more affected were overweight and obese (39.9% and 34% respectively) with abnormal WC (55.8%), abnormal WhR (78.2%), and sedentary behaviors (65.5%). However, 28.4% had abnormal WhtR, 40.6% had hyperglycemia, and 47.7% had low moderate level of PA. Among nurses with poor sleep, ponderal status appeared more normal among those with moderate PA (64.7%, p=0.009 ). Nurses with low and high levels were more overweight and obese (48.5%, p=0.009 ; 15.2%, p=0.009 respectively). Still among paramedical staff with poor sleep, it was noted that nurses with low levels of activity had more abnormal WhR (50.9%, p=0.0008 ), while WhR was more abnormal among nurses with moderate (51.9%, p=0.0008 ) and high (29.6%, p=0.0008 ) levels of PA. MTH were less in risk to suffer from PS quality (OR: 0.48.95%CI: 0.29-0.80; p= 0.004 ) but in risk of short sleep duration (OR= 2.4; 95%CI: 1.45-3.8; p=0.0006 ). Paramedical personnel with work seniority more than 5 years were at risk of PS (OR= 1.67, 95%CI :1.04-2.70, p=0.03 ). Eventhose aged under 30 years were protected against sleep duration (OR=0.50, 95%CI: 0.31-0.94; p=0.03 ). No association was found between PA level and PS and cardiometabolic risk cluster factors. Conclusion: PS is a reality with alarming prevalence among paramedical staff, with high value in females and nurses. No associations were found with CRFs and PA.