Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the effect of chronic sleep deprivation on postural sensory organization.

METHODS: The study included 39 healthcare professionals (23 males, 16 females; mean age: 29.9±5.6 years; range, 26 to 32.5 years) who had worked at a hospital for at least one year and were assigned to either 16-h night shifts (n=20) or regular 8-h daytime shifts (n=19) between March 2022 and June 2022. Evaluations were performed at baseline and at the end of the study. Fatigue evaluations were made by a Visual Analog Scale. Postural sensory organization (somatosensory, visual, and vestibular) and stability limits were evaluated by computed dynamic posturography.

RESULTS: There was no difference between groups in terms of prestudy fatigue, postural sensory organization, and stability limits (p>0.05). Poststudy fatigue values were higher in both groups compared to prestudy values (p<0.05). Anteroposterior and mediolateral somatosensory, visual, and vestibular values and stability limits test values were lower in the night-shift group (p<0.05). Poststudy anteroposterior somatosensory and vestibular test values were lower in the daytime group (p<0.05). The night-shift group had higher poststudy fatigue and lower postural sensory organization and stability limits values compared to the daytime group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Although sleepiness and fatigue levels can be evaluated subjectively, such assessments may not reflect the true physiological state of the tired person.