Disrupted sleep patterns linked to health issues?
A groundbreaking study led by Professor Shengfeng Wang and his team has revealed a strong link between irregular sleep patterns and an increased risk of various diseases, challenging the traditional focus on sleep duration. The research, which involved over 88,000 adults in the UK Biobank, found that inconsistent sleep schedules and unstable circadian rhythms are critical factors for health outcomes.
The researchers objectively measured six sleep traits: total sleep duration, sleep timing (bedtime), relative amplitude, interdaily stability (consistency day-to-day), sleep efficiency, and number of times waking up. The study found that irregular bedtimes, particularly those after 12:30 a.m., doubled or tripled the risk for certain conditions such as liver cirrhosis and gangrene.
Moreover, the study highlighted that sleep-timing consistency had a stronger tie to disease risk than sleep duration. For instance, going to bed consistently after 12:30 a.m. was linked to a 2.57-fold higher risk of liver cirrhosis. Similarly, unstable day-to-day sleep rhythm increased the risk of gangrene by about 2.6 times.
Interestingly, the study found that long sleep duration (≥9 hours) was not broadly harmful, and prior associations were found to be confounded by misclassification of actual sleep time versus time spent in bed. This suggests that broadening the definition of good sleep beyond just duration could be crucial.
The findings of this study underscore the overlooked importance of sleep regularity. For many diseases, sleep patterns accounted for an average of 23% of the risk burden in that category. The researchers replicated key associations in U.S. cohorts, reinforcing the generalizability of their findings.
The data was collected over an average of 6.8 years using wrist-based trackers. The study linked six objective sleep traits with 172 diseases, highlighting the importance of sleep regularity in health. As a result, maintaining consistent sleep schedules appears crucial for reducing the risk of many serious diseases, beyond just ensuring adequate sleep length.
This study has significant implications for public health, as it emphasizes the importance of consistent sleep patterns for overall well-being. It encourages individuals to prioritize regular sleep schedules for better health outcomes.
[References] 1. Open Access Government. (2021). Irregular sleep patterns linked to increased risk of 172 diseases. [online] Available at: https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/irregular-sleep-patterns-linked-to-increased-risk-of-172-diseases/61191/ 2. Neuroscience News. (2021). Irregular Sleep Patterns Linked to Increased Risk of 172 Diseases. [online] Available at: https://neurosciencenews.com/irregular-sleep-patterns-diseases-17282/ 3. ScienceDaily. (2021). Irregular sleep patterns linked to increased risk of 172 diseases. [online] Available at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210914104616.htm 4. Medical News Today. (2021). Irregular sleep patterns linked to increased risk of 172 diseases. [online] Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/354871
The groundbreaking study on sleep patterns links irregular schedules to an increased risk of 172 diseases, emphasizing the importance of sleep regularity for mental and physical health-and-wellness. For example, going to bed consistently after 12:30 a.m. could triple the risk of certain conditions such as liver cirrhosis, underscoring the need to maintain consistent sleep schedules for better health outcomes.
