Risk and protective factors associated with daytime sleepiness in patients diagnosed with hepatitis b or hepatitis c infection

Background: Poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue are common features of chronic hepatitis. Objectives: To evaluate the association between daytime sleepiness and hepatitis and to identify factors that contribute to daytime sleepiness in patients with hepatitis B and those with hepatitis C. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional pilot study, outpatients with fatigue who did not receive any treatment for hepatitis were recruited from the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and were classified into 5 groups of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis B + C, other hepatitis types, and without hepatitis (controls). Gastroesophageal reflux and daytime sleepiness were determined based on two self-reported questionnaires, and linear and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: In total 42 subjects had hepatitis B, 62 had hepatitis C, 9 had hepatitis B + C, 4 had other hepatitis types, and 14 had no hepatitis. Of them, 38 (29.01%) had gastroesophageal reflux (GERDQ score ≥ 12), and 13 (9.92%) had daytime sleepiness (ESS score ≥ 8). Hepatitis B patients with gastroesophageal reflux had significantly higher odds of daytime sleepiness [odds ratio (OR) = 12.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.59-261.02]. In hepatitis C patients, hypertension was significantly associated with daytime sleepiness (OR = 15.6, 95% CI = 2.13-143.21), while those with taller body height and elevated serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) levels had significantly lower odds of daytime sleepiness (body height: OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.65-0.93; GOT: OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.55-0.95). Conclusions: Gastroesophageal reflux is a risk factor for daytime sleepiness in hepatitis B patients. In hepatitis C patients, hypertension is a risk factor, while taller body height and elevated serum GOT are protective factors for daytime sleepiness.