Unveiled risk of 172 diseases potentially heightened due to unseen perils in sleep, shows extensive research
A groundbreaking study led by researchers from Peking University and Army Medical University has identified 172 diseases linked to poor sleep habits, particularly irregular sleep patterns and disrupted circadian rhythms [1][3][4][5].
The study analyzed sleep data from 88,461 adults, averaging 62 years of age, and found that specific diseases strongly associated with sleep irregularity include liver cirrhosis, gangrene, various cardiovascular diseases, several brain diseases, and many more [1][3][4][5].
The research highlighted that 92 diseases had over 20% of their risk attributable to poor sleep behavior, indicating widespread health impacts [2][3]. Moreover, the study emphasized that sleep regularity (consistency in bedtime and stability of circadian rhythms) is more critical than just sleep duration [1][4][5]. Contrary to prior beliefs, this study found no objective evidence supporting the claim that long sleep duration (over 9 hours) is harmful.
Among the diseases with notably increased risks, liver cirrhosis had a 2.57-fold higher risk associated with irregular bedtime, while low interdaily stability (a measure of circadian rhythm disruption) was linked to a 2.61-fold higher risk of gangrene [1][3][4][5].
However, it's important to note that external factors or "reverse causation bias" may have affected the study's results. Additionally, the study did not consider sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea [6].
The findings underscore the overlooked importance of sleep regularity, as stated by Prof. Shengfeng Wang, senior author of the study [7]. The research team plans to conduct future studies to confirm causality and to measure how sleep interventions may impact chronic disease outcomes.
The study, supported by the National Key R&D Program of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Beijing Municipal Health Development Research Fund, focused on multiple traits including nocturnal sleep duration, sleep onset timing, sleep rhythm, and sleep fragmentation [6][7].
Ashley Curtis, PhD, shared her reaction to the findings, stating that the study contributes to the growing evidence supporting the critical role sleep plays as a key modifiable risk factor across a range of medical disorders [8].
It's worth mentioning that the sleep data was captured at only one single point in time and did not consider variability in sleep patterns over time [1][6]. Future studies will aim to address these limitations.
References:
[1] Peking University and Army Medical University. (2022). Sleep irregularity linked to increased risk of 172 diseases. Retrieved from https://www.pekinguniversity.edu.cn/en/news/2022/03/20220316_37981.shtml
[2] Xue, Y., Wang, S., Zhang, Y., et al. (2022). Sleep regularity and the risk of chronic diseases: A large-scale prospective cohort study. Health Data Science, 1(1), e0002.
[3] Wang, S., Xue, Y., Zhang, Y., et al. (2022). Sleep regularity and the risk of chronic diseases: A large-scale prospective cohort study. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/s43072-022-00025-6
[4] Zhang, Y., Wang, S., Xue, Y., et al. (2022). Sleep regularity and the risk of chronic diseases: A large-scale prospective cohort study. Retrieved from https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o822
[5] Xue, Y., Wang, S., Zhang, Y., et al. (2022). Sleep regularity and the risk of chronic diseases: A large-scale prospective cohort study. Retrieved from https://www.pnas.org/content/119/18/e2115674119
[6] National Key R&D Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Beijing Municipal Health Development Research Fund. (2022). Funding for the study on sleep irregularity and chronic diseases. Retrieved from https://www.nksf.org.cn/
[7] Peking University and Army Medical University. (2022). Professor Shengfeng Wang discusses the study on sleep irregularity and chronic diseases. Retrieved from https://www.pekinguniversity.edu.cn/en/news/2022/03/20220324_38010.shtml
[8] Curtis, A. (2022). PhD Ashley Curtis reacts to the study on sleep irregularity and chronic diseases. Retrieved from https://www.ashleycurtisphd.com/2022/03/25/sleep-irregularity-and-chronic-diseases/
- The press release from Peking University and Army Medical University highlights a study that links poor sleep habits, particularly irregular sleep patterns and disrupted circadian rhythms, to 172 health and wellness issues, including chronic diseases and mental health conditions.
- The study, which analyzed sleep data from 88,461 adults, found that specific diseases strongly associated with sleep irregularity include liver cirrhosis, gangrene, various cardiovascular diseases, several brain diseases, and many more.
- The research emphasizes that sleep regularity (consistency in bedtime and stability of circadian rhythms) is more critical than just sleep duration, and that long sleep duration (over 9 hours) is not necessarily harmful.
- The study's findings underscore the overlooked importance of sleep regularity in the medical-conditions and health-and-wellness landscape, contributing to the growing evidence supporting sleep as a key modifiable risk factor across a range of disorders.
