Сharacteristics of sleep disorders in persons working in conditions of ultra-high latitudes of Arctic region and possibility of their non-drug correction during Polar Day

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is an increasing expansion of Russia’s areas of interest in the Arctic region with an increase in the number of specialists of various profiles working in high and ultra-high latitudes on a long-term basis. Modern technologies effectively solve the problems of improving everyday life, reducing the influence of negative factors of the North, which makes it possible to increase the number of employees and expand the range of tasks they perform. At the same time, in these conditions, a person is constantly exposed to negative factors of the North, which affect both the effectiveness of his professional activity and his state of health. Negative factors are also seasonal in nature, associated with the peculiarities and change of the periods Polar Day — Polar Night. One of these important factors is sleep disorders, which have a negative impact on the effectiveness of professional activities, short-term and long-term changes in health. Most studies have focused on sleep disturbances in high latitude environments during the Polar Night period.

AIM: The aim of the work was to study the features of sleep disorders in people working in ultra-high latitudes of the Arctic region during the Polar Day and to develop methods for their correction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of the goal of the study, 208 people working on a rotational basis on the island of Alexandra Land of the Franz Josef Land archipelago during the Polar Day were examined. The study was conducted through an extended survey on sleep quality and the use of a questionnaire to assess the severity of insomnia and the daytime sleepiness scale.

RESULTS: According to the results of the examination, typical sleep disturbances for the polar day period were: difficulty falling asleep, difficulty maintaining sleep (superficial sleep with frequent awakenings), early awakening, daytime (afternoon) sleepiness. At the same time, most of the subjects noted the seasonality of these complaints associated with the Polar Day period. It was revealed that the most pronounced and persistent sleep disorders are detected in persons during their stay in the Arctic zone from 1 to 3 years and after 10 years of work, which is associated in the first case with the formation of adaptation mechanisms, in the second — with their exhaustion. Factors supporting sleep disorders were identified (social and information deprivation (lack of access to Internet resources, limited communication with the mainland, etc.); physical inactivity; irregular daily shift schedule, the need to perform additional work, monotony of work, exposure to low temperatures).

CONCLUSION: Non-drug correction methods have been proposed that have shown high efficacy.

Keywords

Arctic / Far North / Franz Josef Land / insomnia / Polar Day / sleep disorders / ultra-high latitudes

References

[1] Maksimov AL, Averyanova IV. Peculiarities of seasonal variability of heart rate dynamics and hemodynamics in Magadan oblast residents depending on the leading type of vegetative regulation. Bulletin of the North-East Scientific Center, Russia Academy of Sciences Far East Branch. 2014;(3):116–121. (In Russ.) EDN: SGFIQV

[2] Максимов А.Л., Аверьянова И.В. Сезонные изменения показателей кардиоритма и гемодинамики у постоянных жителей Магаданской области в зависимости от ведущего типа вегетативной регуляции // Вестник Северо-Восточного научного центра ДВО РАН. 2014. № 3. С. 116–121. EDN: SGFIQV

[3] Maksimov AL, Averyanova IV. Peculiarities of seasonal variability of heart rate dynamics and hemodynamics in Magadan oblast residents depending on the leading type of vegetative regulation. Bulletin of the North-East Scientific Center, Russia Academy of Sciences Far East Branch. 2014;(3):116–121. (In Russ.) EDN: SGFIQV

[4] Poluektov MG, Buzunov RV, Averbukh VM, et al. Project of clinical recommendations on diagnosis and treatment of chronic insomnia in adults. Neurology and Rheumatology. Supplement to the Journal Consilium Medicum. 2016;(2):41–51. (In Russ.) EDN: YOSOMH

[5] Полуэктов М.Г., Бузунов Р.В., Авербух В.М., и др. Проект клинических рекомендаций по диагностике и лечению хронической инсомнии у взрослых // Неврология и pевматология. Приложение к журналу Consilium Medicum. 2016. № 2. С. 41–51. EDN: YOSOMH

[6] Poluektov MG, Buzunov RV, Averbukh VM, et al. Project of clinical recommendations on diagnosis and treatment of chronic insomnia in adults. Neurology and Rheumatology. Supplement to the Journal Consilium Medicum. 2016;(2):41–51. (In Russ.) EDN: YOSOMH

[7] Sumi Y, Kadotani H. Sleep Disorders and Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction. Brain Nerve. 2022;74(3):279–282. doi: 10.11477/mf.1416202024

[8] Sumi Y., Kadotani H. Sleep Disorders and Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction // Brain Nerve. 2022. Vol. 74, N 3. P. 279–282. doi: 10.11477/mf.1416202024

[9] Sumi Y, Kadotani H. Sleep Disorders and Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction. Brain Nerve. 2022;74(3):279–282. doi: 10.11477/mf.1416202024

[10] Lichstein KL, Taylor DJ, McCrae CS, et al. Insomnia: Epidemiology and Risk Factors. In: Kryger MH, Roth T, Dement WC. Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. Fifth Edition. Elsevier Inc.; 2010:827–837. doi: 10.1016/B978-1-4160-6645-3.00076-1

[11] Lichstein K.L., Taylor D.J., McCrae C.S., et al. Insomnia: Epidemiology and Risk Factors. In: Kryger M.H., Roth T., Dement W.C. Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. Fifth Edition. Elsevier Inc., 2010. P. 827–837. doi: 10.1016/B978-1-4160-6645-3.00076-1

[12] Lichstein KL, Taylor DJ, McCrae CS, et al. Insomnia: Epidemiology and Risk Factors. In: Kryger MH, Roth T, Dement WC. Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. Fifth Edition. Elsevier Inc.; 2010:827–837. doi: 10.1016/B978-1-4160-6645-3.00076-1

[13] Mysliwiec V, McGraw L, Pierce R. Sleep disorders and associated medical comorbidities in active duty military personnel. Sleep. 2013;36(2):167–174. doi: 10.5665/sleep.2364

[14] Mysliwiec V., McGraw L., Pierce R. Sleep disorders and associated medical comorbidities in active duty military personnel // Sleep. 2013. Vol. 36, N 2. P. 167–174. doi: 10.5665/sleep.2364

[15] Mysliwiec V, McGraw L, Pierce R. Sleep disorders and associated medical comorbidities in active duty military personnel. Sleep. 2013;36(2):167–174. doi: 10.5665/sleep.2364

[16] Harrison EM, Glickman GL, Beckerley S., Taylor MK. Self-Reported Sleep During U.S. Navy Operations and the Impact of Deployment-Related Factors. Mil Med. 2017;182(S1):189–194. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-16-00078

[17] Harrison E.M., Glickman G.L., Beckerley S., Taylor M.K. Self-Reported Sleep During U.S. Navy Operations and the Impact of Deployment-Related Factors // Mil. Med. 2017. Vol. 182, Suppl. 1. P. 189–194. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-16-00078

[18] Harrison EM, Glickman GL, Beckerley S., Taylor MK. Self-Reported Sleep During U.S. Navy Operations and the Impact of Deployment-Related Factors. Mil Med. 2017;182(S1):189–194. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-16-00078

[19] Luyster FS, Strollo PJ, Zee PC, et al. Sleep: A health imperative. Sleep. 2012;35(6):727–734. doi: 10.5665/sleep.1846

[20] Luyster F.S., Strollo P.J., Zee P.C., et al. Sleep: A health imperative // Sleep. 2012. Vol. 35, N6. P. 727–734. doi: 10.5665/sleep.1846

[21] Luyster FS, Strollo PJ, Zee PC, et al. Sleep: A health imperative. Sleep. 2012;35(6):727–734. doi: 10.5665/sleep.1846

[22] Harrison EM, Schmied EA. Hurtado SL, et al. The Development, Implementation, and Feasibility of a Circadian, Light, and Sleep Skills Program for Shipboard Military Personnel (CLASS-SM). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(5):3093. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19053093

[23] Harrison E.M., Schmied E.A., Hurtado S.L., et al. The Development, Implementation, and Feasibility of a Circadian, Light, and Sleep Skills Program for Shipboard Military Personnel (CLASS-SM) // Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2022. Vol. 19, N 5. P. 3093. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19053093

[24] Harrison EM, Schmied EA. Hurtado SL, et al. The Development, Implementation, and Feasibility of a Circadian, Light, and Sleep Skills Program for Shipboard Military Personnel (CLASS-SM). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(5):3093. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19053093

[25] Good CH, Brager AJ, Capaldi VF, et al. Sleep in the United States Military. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2020;45(1):176–191. doi: 10.1038/s41386-019-0431-7

[26] Good C.H., Brager A.J., Capaldi V.F., et al. Sleep in the United States Military // Neuropsychopharmacology. 2020. Vol. 45, N 1. P. 176–191. doi: 10.1038/s41386-019-0431-7

[27] Good CH, Brager AJ, Capaldi VF, et al. Sleep in the United States Military. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2020;45(1):176–191. doi: 10.1038/s41386-019-0431-7

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Eco-Vector