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Health experts recommend that most adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night. However, recent research suggests that the quality of sleep may be more important than the total number of hours.
A groundbreaking study conducted by teams from Peking University and Army Medical University has found a correlation between irregular sleep patterns and an increased risk of developing 172 different diseases.
The study analyzed sleep data from 88,461 adults over nearly seven years, focusing on various sleep traits such as nocturnal sleep duration, sleep onset timing, sleep rhythm, and sleep fragmentation.
They compared this data to health outcomes from different sources and discovered that poor sleep behavior was associated with a 20% increased risk for 92 diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and acute kidney failure.
A recent study found a link between irregular sleep patterns and an increased risk of 172 different diseases. (iStock)
Moreover, 42 diseases showed at least double the risk, including age-related frailty, gangrene, and liver conditions like fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Poor sleep traits were also associated with a 1.5 times higher risk for 122 diseases, such as diabetes, respiratory failure, bone fractures, and urinary incontinence.
Inflammatory pathways were identified as a potential link between irregular sleep patterns and disease development.
The study, published in Health Data Science, highlights the importance of consistent sleep patterns for overall health.
“It’s crucial to redefine good sleep beyond just the number of hours,” said Prof. Shengfeng Wang, senior author of the study.
While the study sheds light on the impact of sleep on health, it also emphasizes the need to consider how sleep is measured, whether through self-reporting or wearable devices.
The study revealed that poor sleep behavior contributed to a 20% increased risk for certain diseases. (iStock)
Further studies are planned to confirm the causal relationship between sleep patterns and disease outcomes, as well as to explore how sleep interventions can impact chronic diseases.
The research was supported by various funding sources to further investigate the role of sleep in overall health.
