Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Medical Students in Jordan and their Association with Academic Performance

Background: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-related symptoms may affect medical students and interns. Objective: To determine the prevalence of EDS and OSA in medical students and interns from Jordan and its association with academic performance. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2025 and February 2026 and included medical students and interns from multiple medical schools in Jordan. Participants completed Arabic versions of the Berlin Questionnaire and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and reported GPA categories. EDS was defined as ESS >10; high risk for OSA was determined using the Berlin Questionnaire classification. Bivariate P values were adjusted using the Benjamini–Hochberg procedure, and simultaneous-entry logistic regression was performed. Results: A total of 642 participants were included, with the majority being female (61.5%). Overall, 174 (27.1%) partcipants had EDS and 68 (10.6%) were at high risk for OSA. High-risk participants had higher ESS scores than low-risk participants (median [IQR], 9.5 [5.0] vs. 8.0 [6.0]; adjusted P < 0.001). The association persisted even when the fatigue items of the Berlin Questionnaire were removed and only the snoring/witnessed-apnea domain was used (adjusted P = 0.013). Female sex (adjusted OR: 1.64; 95% CI, 1.11–2.42; P = 0.014) and observed apnea (adjusted OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.41–4.99; P = 0.002) were independently associated with EDS. GPA was not associated with EDS. Model discrimination was limited (AUC: 0.633), with a sensitivity of 6.9%. Conclusions: Excessive daytime sleepiness was found to be common among medical students and interns in Jordan, and 1 in 10 participants met the questionnaire-based criteria of high risk for OSA. Female sex and observed apnea were independently associated with EDS, whereas academic performance was not. The limited discrimination and sensitivity of the model preclude its use as a screening tool.