In a PSG study, what does a high percentage of sleep in stage 1 indicate?

A high percentage of sleep in stage 1 indicates a possible difficulty maintaining deeper stages of sleep. Stage 1 sleep is the lightest phase of non-REM sleep, serving as a transition between wakefulness and deeper sleep stages. While it's normal to experience some stage 1 sleep, an excessive amount can signal disruptions in sleep continuity and an inability to progress into deeper, more restorative stages of sleep.

This could be due to various factors, including anxiety, environmental disturbances, or sleep disorders. Identifying a high occurrence of stage 1 sleep during a polysomnography (PSG) study can provide valuable insights into the patient's sleep pattern and is often a point of concern for sleep technicians and clinicians when assessing sleep quality.