Sleep Deprivation and Academic Achievement Among Medical Students: A Systematic Review of Global Evidence

Abstract

Background: Sleep deprivation is increasingly recognized as a major public health concern among university students, particularly those pursuing medical education. Medical students frequently experience inadequate sleep due to demanding academic schedules, clinical responsibilities, examination stress, and lifestyle-related factors. Emerging evidence suggests that chronic sleep deprivation adversely affects cognitive function, learning capacity, memory consolidation, and academic achievement. Objective: To systematically review the global evidence regarding the prevalence of sleep deprivation among medical students and examine its association with academic achievement. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between January 2000 and December 2025. Observational studies evaluating sleep deprivation and academic outcomes among undergraduate or postgraduate medical students were included. Data regarding study characteristics, prevalence of sleep deprivation, sleep duration, academic performance indicators, and associated risk factors were extracted and narratively synthesized. Results: A total of 36 studies comprising approximately 24,800 medical students from 22 countries met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of sleep deprivation, commonly defined as sleeping less than 7 hours per night, ranged from 41.2% to 88.5%, with an overall weighted prevalence of 65.9%. Most studies reported a significant negative association between sleep deprivation and academic achievement. Students experiencing sleep deprivation demonstrated lower grade point averages (GPAs), poorer examination performance, reduced concentration, impaired memory retention, increased daytime sleepiness, and higher levels of academic stress. Several studies identified academic workload, examination anxiety, excessive screen time, social media use, and caffeine consumption as major contributors to sleep deprivation. Conclusion: Sleep deprivation is highly prevalent among medical students worldwide and is consistently associated with poorer academic achievement. Interventions promoting adequate sleep duration and healthy sleep practices may improve both academic performance and overall well-being among medical students.