Effect of variation in sleep onset timing on simple visual reaction time in business process outsourcing employees of Hyderabad, Telangana

Background: From the past decade, changes in various dimensions of lifestyles of the individuals have become inevitable which is evident in sleep onset timing variation like never before. Not only business process outsourcing (BPO) employees, other professions such as doctors, nurses, and police personnel are trying to align their life against the natural circadian rhythm. Due to chronic alterations in sleep onset timing on regular basis, there is a possibility of cognitive domain aberrations in human beings which will eventually affect the quality of life. Optimum reaction time (RT) is very important factor for hassle free day-to-day activities. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to know the effect of sleep onset variation on simple visual RT (VRT). Materials and Methods: Group A includes 60 healthy, male subjects within the age group of 24–30 years who are working in BPO having shift work pattern. Group B includes 60 healthy, age- and sex-matched individuals working only in the daytime. VRT of all the individuals was estimated between 10:00 and 11:00 am using Gary-Darby RT software, version-V4.0. Institute ethical clearance was obtained before conducting the research work. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects. Results: Mean average VRT and mean longest VRT of Group A and Group B are 0.44 ± 0.26, 0.68 ± 0.36 s and 0.26 ± 0.16, 0.44 ± 0.18 s, respectively. Analysis of statistical data was done by Student’s t-test and P ˂ 0.05 was considered for statistical significance. For average VRT and longest VRT ‘P’ is less than 0.05. Conclusion: From above data, chronic variation in sleep onset timing is significantly affecting simple VRT.