Lower 24-h urinary potassium excretion is negatively associated with excessive daytime sleepiness in the general population.

Objectives: Uncertainty remains about the association of potassium (K) intake and sleepiness. Therefore, we aimed to explore the relationship between K excretion using 24-h urine samples and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in the general population.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we used multi-stage proportional random sampling to obtain a study sample aged ≥ 18 years from Emin, China between March and June 2019. We collected timed 24-h urine specimens and conducted EDS assessments using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaire. Subjects were divided into two groups by the median of 24-h urinary potassium (24-h UK). EDS was defined as ESS score ≥ 10. Multi-variable linear regression was used to examine the association between the 24-h UK and the odds of prevalent EDS. We performed a sensitivity analysis by excluding subjects under anti-hypertensive treatment and those with sleep disordered breathing by the NoSAS scale.

Results: A total of 470 participants with complete 24-h urine samples and ESS data (62% women, mean age 49.6 years, mean ESS score of 9.0 ± 5.2) were enrolled. The mean ESS score was significantly lower in the upper half of 24-h UK group than in the lower half (9.5 ± 5.3 vs 8.5 ± 5.1, P = 0.044), and accordingly, prevalent EDS was significantly greater in the lower half than in the higher half (49% vs 40%, P = 0.039). In further improving the propensity matching score, the results remained consistent with the overall results. In multiple linear regression, 24-h UK was negatively correlated with ESS score (β =  - 0.180 (- 0.276, - 0.085), < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated augmented results in those without anti-hypertensive treatment.

Conclusion: Lower potassium intake, as suggested by lower UK excretion, may be implicated in the presence of EDS in the general population.