Food insecurity and the risk of sleep disorders in people living with HIV/AIDS as a neglected health concern: A national survey in Iran
Fatemeh Hadavandsiri,
Safieh Mohammad nejad,
Marziyeh Mahboobi,
Arezu Najafi,
Mohammad Ebrahimzadeh Mousavi,
Sayed Hassan Faghihi,
Narges Abdolmohamadi,
Samaneh Akbarpour
Affiliations
Fatemeh Hadavandsiri
Occupational Sleep Research Center, Baharloo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Safieh Mohammad nejad
Sleep Breathing Disorders Research Center (SBDRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Marziyeh Mahboobi
Center for Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
Arezu Najafi
Occupational Sleep Research Center, Baharloo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Ebrahimzadeh Mousavi
Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
Sayed Hassan Faghihi
Social Determinant of Health Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Narges Abdolmohamadi
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical, Tehran, Iran
Samaneh Akbarpour
Corresponding author. Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Occupational Sleep Research Center, Baharloo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical, Tehran, Iran; Center for Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran; Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Social Determinant of Health Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Sleep Breathing Disorders Research Center (SBDRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Food insecurity (FI) and sleep problems are major modifiable health issues among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH), and there is limited knowledge about their prevalence among this underrepresented population. Our study aimed to assess the relationship between FI and sleep problems as important environmental factors affecting PLWH in Iran.The national survey was conducted on 1185 confirmed HIV-positive patients who attended consulting centers in 15 geographically diverse provinces in Iran, during 2021–2022. Standard questionnaires were used to measure FI and sleep problems (Insomnia, Obstructive Sleep apnea (OSA), Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS), and Poor sleep quality), and a logistic regression model was used to assess the association between FI and the odds of experiencing sleep problems.About 764 (The prevalence of FI = 64.47 %) of the participants had insecure status, with a mean score of 11.73 (SE = 0.34). Those with FI had a higher prevalence of insomnia, EDS, and poor sleep quality (54.84 %, 31.79 %, and 55.17 %, respectively) compared to those without FI (30.69 %, 17.03 %, and 40.42 %, respectively). FI increased the odds of being at risk for Insomnia (OR = 2.39, 95 % CI: 1.81–3.15), EDS (OR = 1.44, 95 % CI: 1.04–2.01), and poor sleep quality (OR = 1.79, 95 % CI: 1.29–2.48) in the multiple regression model. The results highlight the strong association between FI and a broad range of sleep problems in PLWH. Considering the impact of FI and impaired sleep health on PLWH, more attention is needed for at-risk groups for screening and intervention purposes.
