Abstract
Disclosure: S. Paladugu: None. T. Thota: None. S. vasikarla: None.
Introduction: Endocrine disorders are emerging as one of the emergences in response to a growing recognition of the academic stress and deviation from routine life habits + poor sleep quality that medical students commonly experience. They are the ones disrupting hormonal system, such as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and thyroid or reproductive hormones. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between perceived stress, sleep quality, BMI and endocrine disorders in the Medical students(MBBS students). Objectives: 1. Assess stress and sleep quality in medical students. 2. Compare stress and sleep quality in students with and without endocrine disorders. 3. Determine correlations between stress, sleep, and endocrine dysfunction. 4. Evaluate the relevance of BMI in this context. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 undergraduate Medical (MBBS) students. Study population was categorised as follow: Those with (n = 32) and without endocrine disorders (n=218). Conditions included hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus and PCOS. Stress(Perceived Stress Scale) Sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) BMI as standardized tools. Statistical analysis SPSS, p < 0.05 indicate significant. Results: High stress levels were more common in students with endocrine disorders (40.6%) than those without (19.7%), with a significant association (p = 0.0292; OR = 2.30). Moderate to severe sleep difficulties were also more prevalent in this group (56.3% vs 36.7%; p = 0.0349; OR = 2.22). Although not statistically significant, obesity was more frequent among students with endocrine disorders (6.3% vs 2.8%; OR = 1.97). Discussion: Findings reveal an association among stress, sleep deprivation and endocrine issues. The data suggest that stress may influence hormone regulation via the HPA axis, furthering this pathogenesis in disorders such as hypothyroidism and PCOS. Hormones are dysregulated by poor sleep which influences metabolism and appetite controlling hormones exacerbating endocrine dysfunction. It was not statistically significant, but trends suggesting some role in hormonal imbalance do exist particularly for BMI. Conclusions: High stress levels and poor sleep seem to be associated with endocrine diseases in medical ( MBBS)student participants. Although BMI was not statistically significant, it may have some clinical relevance. The results highlight that stress management, sleep hygiene and lifestyle may have a role in development of endocrine disorders. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to explore the correlation between perceived stress, sleep hygiene in the development of endocrine disorders.
Presentation: Sunday, July 13, 2025