Disquieting finding in substantial research shows that an undetected sleep hazard could potentially escalate the chance of 172 health issues.
In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Health Data Science, researchers from Peking University and Army Medical University have found that irregular sleep patterns are linked to significantly increased risks for 172 diseases across the body [1][2][3][4]. The study, led by Professor Shengfeng Wang, senior author of the study, underscores the overlooked importance of sleep regularity [3].
The research analysed seven years of UK Biobank sleep data from 88,461 adults, with an average age of 62 years [2]. The study found that people who go to bed after 12:30 a.m. have a 2.57-times higher risk of developing liver fibrosis or cirrhosis compared to those with earlier bedtimes (11:00–11:30 p.m.) [1][3][4][5]. Low day-to-day stability in sleep timing, or poor interdaily stability, raises the risk of serious conditions like gangrene by 2.61 times [1][3][4][5].
The risks linked to poor sleep behaviour extend to at least 92 distinct diseases, where over 20% of the disease risk can be attributed to irregular sleep patterns [1][3][4][5]. These diseases include type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, acute kidney failure, and others. Poor sleep traits were linked to 1.5 times the risk of 122 diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, respiratory failure, certain bone fractures, and urinary incontinence [2][3][4][5].
Dr. Ashley Curtis, PhD, assistant professor and director of the Cognition, Aging, Sleep, and Health (CASH) Lab, shared her reaction to the findings, emphasising the critical role sleep plays as a key modifiable risk factor across a range of medical disorders [1]. She emphasised the need for future studies that include a more comprehensive clinical assessment to fully elucidate the link between sleep disorder profiles and the risk of other medical comorbidities [4].
The study challenges prior assumptions about long sleep being harmful. Objective data showed that many self-reported long sleepers actually had short sleep duration, indicating misclassification. Long sleep (≥9 hours) itself was not broadly linked to poor health outcomes [2][3][4][5].
However, the study did not consider sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea. External factors or "reverse causation bias" might have affected the results of the study. The sleep data was captured at only one single point in time and sleep was only measured across one seven-day time period, not considering variability in sleep patterns over time [2][3].
Inflammatory pathways were identified as one possible link between irregular sleep and disease. The study participants were mainly middle-aged or elderly, which might limit its representation of the nationwide population. Future studies will be conducted by the research team to confirm causality and measure the impact of sleep interventions on chronic disease outcomes [2][3].
In conclusion, the study highlights the critical dimensions of sleep health that strongly affect long-term disease risk, shifting focus away from sleep duration alone. Maintaining consistent sleep schedules could potentially lead to better health outcomes [1][3][4].
- The groundbreaking study published in Health Data Science, which analyzed seven years of UK Biobank sleep data, underscores the importance of sleep regularity in maintaining health and wellness, particularly in relation to the development of various medical-conditions and mental-health issues.
- The research found that people with irregular sleep patterns have a significantly increased risk of developing multiple diseases, including type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, acute kidney failure, and gangrene, among others.
- The findings emphasize the role of sleep regularity as a key modifiable risk factor across a range of medical disorders, and they challenge prior assumptions about the link between long sleep and poor health outcomes.
- Future studies are needed to confirm causality, measure the impact of sleep interventions on chronic disease outcomes, and to consider factors such as sleep disorders, external factors, and variability in sleep patterns over time.
