Sleep Health in Disadvantaged and Forgotten Populations

Indigenous populations, migrant workers, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations must overcome significant barriers such as cultural dissonance, personal or systemic racism, language differences, and geographic isolation in order to access first-line healthcare. As such, for these populations, it has been noted that healthcare services are typically underutilized. Yet, these same populations typically show greater frequencies of health risk factors such as smoking, poor diet, obesity, physical inactivity, and social isolation. Furthermore, comorbidities such as metabolic syndrome, hypertension, asthma or COPD, and mental health disorders are also more prevalent than compared to the greater population. These risk factors and comorbidities present a significant risk for sleep health disorders such as sleep apnoea, insomnias, or parasomnias. Coupled with reduced healthcare access and utilization, this suggests that the burden of sleep disorders and associated morbidity is substantially higher in these populations.

The goal of this Research Topic is to not just compile evidence pertaining to the prevalence of sleep disorders among disadvantaged populations, but also to test methods for improved case finding and screening, and for the management and follow-up of patients. Furthermore, we seek to determine if there are other particular risk factors for the development of sleep disorders specific to these populations, and what the morbidity and mortality outcomes are from these. In the field of sleep health recent work has been promoting the use of less invasive and more patient comfortable home sleep tests, ranging from self-applied somnograms to smartwatches and home pulse oximeters. Deep learning techniques have shown that valid diagnoses can be made even with only minimal testing channels. The use of these technologies may allow for greater access to sleep health testing and monitoring among disadvantaged populations.

Prevalence of sleep health disorders (sleep apnoea, insomnias, parasomnias) within disadvantaged populations (Indigenous/First nations, CALD, migrant worker). Risk factors associated with the development of sleep disorders within these populations, and risk factors associated with poorer outcomes from sleep disorders within these populations. Methods-based studies describing how sleep health services are/can be provided for these populations, including the use of new/limited sleep study techniques and technologies, and qualitative studies exploring the acceptability of sleep health services and new sleep health technologies.

Keywords: Indigenous populations, migrant workers, sleep

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