Assessment of burden of internet addiction and its association with quality of sleep and cardiovascular autonomic function in undergraduate medical students

Abstract

Problem considered: This study aimed to determine the association of internet addiction with poor sleep quality and autonomic function in medical students. Methods: In this cross-sectional study design, we assessed internet addiction, sleep quality, demographic and basal cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure and heart rate), autonomic indices (E: I ratio and isometric handgrip test (ΔDBPihg) in 148 medical students. Sleep quality and internet usage were assessed using questionnaires. Qualitative data were expressed in number (percentage) and analyzed using the Chi-square test. Normally distributed quantitative data were analyzed using student t-test and expressed as mean and SD. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine the association between sleep quality and internet addiction. p-value of <0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: In the present study, 64.9% of participants reported moderate internet usage, and 19.6% reported excessive internet usage. The preference for internet usage at night-time was more than daytime. Further, the internet addicted group demonstrated increased resting heart rate. We also observed a significant association between internet addiction and sleep quality. Conclusion: These findings of the present study show that internet overuse is associated with poor sleep quality in undergraduate medical students.

Keywords

• Internet addiction
• Medical students
• Sleep quality
• Sympathetic modulation