Rhythms and risks: Examining the relationship between circadian patterns and nicotine and alcohol use among medical students

Objective: Chronotype refers to an individual’s natural preference for sleep and wake times, which reflects their internal circadian rhythm. It determines whether a person feels more alert and active in the morning, in the evening, or follows a more intermediate pattern. The aim of the study was to identify a potential association between chronotypes and the consumption of nicotine and highrisk alcohol use among medical students. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted between May 2024 and June 2024 via an online platform (Google Forms) among medical students in Marmara University. Horne-Ostberg’s Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire form was used to determine the circadian rhythm characteristics. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the associations of nicotine and high-risk alcohol use with chronotype. Results: A total of 323 medical students participated in the survey. Of the respondents, 198 (61.3%) had an intermediate chronotype, 69 (21.4%) had a morning chronotype, and 56 (17.3%) had an evening chronotype. It was observed that students with an evening chronotype had a statistically significantly higher rate of regular nicotine use compared to those with a morning chronotype (OR=3.62, p=0.04) and a high-risk alcohol use (OR=4.49, p=0.015). Conclusion: Assessing the evening type population among medical students may be a specific target for educational health promotion interventions aimed at preventing or reducing alcohol and nicotine consumption.