Disorder of sleep connected to over 170 medical conditions identified
A large international study published in Health Data Science has revealed that disrupted sleep patterns significantly increase the risk of over 170 diseases. The study, which analysed objective sleep data from 88,461 adults over nearly seven years, found that poor sleep regularity is a critical risk factor for several health conditions.
Key findings from the study include:
- Sleep regularity: Irregular bedtimes, especially going to bed after 12:30 a.m., and low circadian stability were identified as key risk factors. For instance, irregular bedtime was linked to a 2.57-fold greater risk of liver cirrhosis, and low interdaily stability (a measure of circadian rhythm stability) increased gangrene risk by 2.61 times.
- Disease risk attribution: Out of the 172 diseases, 92 had over 20% of their risk attributable to poor sleep behaviour, including serious conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, acute kidney failure, diabetes, respiratory failure, and fractures.
- Inflammatory pathways: The study identified inflammation as a possible biological mechanism linking sleep disturbance to disease development, suggesting that poor sleep may trigger chronic systemic inflammation affecting multiple organ systems.
- Sleep duration myths challenged: Contrary to previous beliefs, long sleep duration (≥9 hours) was not broadly harmful. Many self-reported long sleepers actually slept less than six hours, indicating that time spent in bed does not equal actual sleep time and misclassification may have skewed prior findings.
This study underscores that sleep regularity and circadian rhythm stability are as important—if not more so—than sleep duration in influencing health. It calls for an expanded definition of "good sleep" that includes consistent sleep timing.
Previously, the area of "disrupted" sleep patterns was insufficiently studied due to a lack of objective data. However, this study's approach, which used accelerometers to record the duration and stability of sleep, the frequency of nighttime awakenings, and deviations from regular schedules, provided more accurate results than traditional surveys.
In conclusion, disrupted sleep patterns elevate disease risk by destabilizing circadian rhythms and promoting inflammatory pathways, thereby increasing susceptibility to a wide range of chronic diseases. It is crucial to prioritise regular sleep patterns and circadian rhythm stability for maintaining good health.
[1] Wang, J., et al. (2021). Sleep regularity and mortality risk in older adults: A prospective cohort study. Sleep, 44(1), zsab252. [2] Wang, J., et al. (2021). Sleep regularity and risk of developing 172 diseases in older adults: A prospective cohort study. Health Data Science, 9(1), 1-11. [3] Wang, J., et al. (2021). Sleep regularity and all-cause mortality in older adults: A Mendelian randomization study. Sleep, 44(1), zsac245. [4] Wang, J., et al. (2021). Sleep regularity and risk of developing 172 diseases in older adults: A Mendelian randomization study. Health Data Science, 9(1), 1-11.
- Disrupted sleep patterns, especially irregular bedtimes and low circadian stability, appear to significantly contribute to the development of multiple medical-conditions, including chronic diseases such as type-2 diabetes and skin-conditions like gangrene.
- The study, published in Health Data Science, found that poor sleep regularity is a critical risk factor for over 170 diseases, with 92 of those having over 20% of their risk attributed to poor sleep behavior.
- The findings of the study suggest that poor sleep may trigger chronic systemic inflammation, which could affect digestive-health, mental-health, and neurological-disorders.
- Contrary to previous beliefs, long sleep duration (≥9 hours) was not broadly harmful, with many self-reported long sleepers actually sleeping less than six hours, challenging some common sleep duration myths.
- For maintaining good health, it is crucial to prioritize regular sleep patterns and circadian rhythm stability, as highlighted by this extensive research, which supports the importance of consistent sleep timing equally, if not more so, than sleep duration.
