IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i4p3168-d1065130.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sleep Architecture and Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders of Seafarers on Board Merchant Ships: A Polysomnographic Pilot Field Study on the High Seas

Author

Listed:
  • Fiona Kerkamm

    (Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine Hamburg (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Dorothee Dengler

    (Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine Hamburg (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Matthias Eichler

    (Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine Hamburg (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Danuta Materzok-Köppen

    (Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine Hamburg (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Lukas Belz

    (Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine Hamburg (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Felix Alexander Neumann

    (Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Birgit-Christiane Zyriax

    (Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Volker Harth

    (Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine Hamburg (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Marcus Oldenburg

    (Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine Hamburg (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

As seafarers are assumed to have an increased risk profile for sleep-related breathing disorders, this cross-sectional observational study measured (a) the feasibility and quality of polysomnography (PSG) on board merchant ships, (b) sleep macro- and microarchitecture, (c) sleep-related breathing disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), using the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), and (d) subjective and objective sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and pupillometry. Measurements were carried out on two container ships and a bulk carrier. A total of 19 out of 73 male seafarers participated. The PSG’s signal qualities and impedances were comparable to those in a sleep laboratory without unusual artifacts. Compared to the normal population, seafarers had a lower total sleep time, a shift of deep sleep phases in favor of light sleep phases as well as an increased arousal index. Additionally, 73.7% of the seafarers were diagnosed with at least mild OSA (AHI ≥ 5) and 15.8% with severe OSA (AHI ≥ 30). In general, seafarers slept in the supine position with a remarkable frequency of breathing cessations. A total of 61.1% of the seafarers had increased subjective daytime sleepiness (ESS > 5). Pupillometry results for objective sleepiness revealed a mean relative pupillary unrest index (rPUI) of 1.2 (SD 0.7) in both occupational groups. In addition, significantly poorer objective sleep quality was found among the watchkeepers. A need for action with regard to poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness of seafarers on board is indicated. A slightly increased prevalence of OSA among seafarers is likely.

Suggested Citation

  • Fiona Kerkamm & Dorothee Dengler & Matthias Eichler & Danuta Materzok-Köppen & Lukas Belz & Felix Alexander Neumann & Birgit-Christiane Zyriax & Volker Harth & Marcus Oldenburg, 2023. "Sleep Architecture and Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders of Seafarers on Board Merchant Ships: A Polysomnographic Pilot Field Study on the High Seas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-20, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3168-:d:1065130
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/4/3168/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/4/3168/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fiona Kerkamm & Dorothee Dengler & Matthias Eichler & Danuta Materzok-Köppen & Lukas Belz & Felix Alexander Neumann & Birgit Christiane Zyriax & Volker Harth & Marcus Oldenburg, 2021. "Measurement Methods of Fatigue, Sleepiness, and Sleep Behaviour Aboard Ships: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Marcus Oldenburg & Hans-Joachim Jensen, 2019. "Stress and Strain among Seafarers Related to the Occupational Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-9, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. David Lucas & Olaf Chresten Jensen & Brice Loddé & Richard Pougnet & Jean-Dominique Dewitte & Dominique Jegaden, 2020. "Comment on Oldenburg, M., Jensen, H.J. Stress and Strain among Seafarers Related to the Occupational Groups. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, doi:10.3390/ijerph16071153," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-3, February.
    2. Claire Giot & Laure Lejeune & Nicolas Bessot & Damien Davenne, 2023. "A Survey Exploring How Watch Officers Manage Effects of Sleep Restrictions during Maritime Navigation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Andrea Russo & Rosanda Mulić & Ivana Kolčić & Matko Maleš & Iris Jerončić Tomić & Luka Pezelj, 2023. "Longitudinal Study on the Effect of Onboard Service on Seafarers’ Health Statuses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-10, March.
    4. Shervin Assari & Mohsen Bazargan, 2019. "Unequal Associations between Educational Attainment and Occupational Stress across Racial and Ethnic Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-11, September.
    5. Siti Nazilah Mat Ali & Lucian-Ionel Cioca & Ruhiyah Sakinah Kayati & Jumadil Saputra & Muhammad Adam & Roxana Plesa & Raja Zirwatul Aida Raja Ibrahim, 2023. "A Study of Psychometric Instruments and Constructs of Work-Related Stress among Seafarers: A Qualitative Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-22, February.
    6. Fan, Shiqi & Yang, Zaili, 2024. "Accident data-driven human fatigue analysis in maritime transport using machine learning," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    7. Li, Xue & Zhou, Yusheng & Yuen, Kum Fai, 2022. "A systematic review on seafarer health: Conditions, antecedents and interventions," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 11-25.
    8. Marcus Oldenburg & Hans-Joachim Jensen, 2020. "Reply to Comment on Oldenburg, M., Jensen, H.J. Stress and Strain among Seafarers Related to the Occupational Groups. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019 , doi:10.3390/ijerph16071153," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-2, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3168-:d:1065130. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.