Distinct Sleep Patterns Linked to Long-Term Health Risks, Study Finds
Summary:
Researchers have uncovered four distinct sleep patterns that are closely associated with long-term health outcomes, demonstrating the significant impact of sleep habits on chronic health conditions. The study, which utilized data from the Midlife in the United States study, discovered that the most prevalent sleep patterns, “insomnia sleepers” and “nappers,” are connected to higher risks of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression over a decade. The findings highlight the importance of providing public education on sleep hygiene and developing tailored interventions to promote healthy sleep habits and improve overall health.
Key Facts:
- Four sleep patterns identified: Good sleepers, Weekend catch-up sleepers, Insomnia sleepers, and Nappers, with insomnia sleepers and nappers most common and linked to higher chronic health risks.
- Over a 10-year period, sleep patterns largely remained consistent, especially among insomnia sleepers and nappers, suggesting entrenched sleep habits.
- The study, which was funded by the National Institute on Aging, indicates the influence of socioeconomic factors on sleep patterns and emphasizes the importance of societal support for improving sleep health.
Poor sleep habits have long been established as strong contributors to chronic health conditions. In an effort to further understand this relationship, researchers from Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development, led by Associate Professor Soomi Lee, have identified four distinct sleep patterns that characterize the majority of the population’s sleep habits. These sleep patterns have also been found to be predictive of long-term health issues, the study reveals.
The study involved a national sample of approximately 3,700 adults from the Midlife in the United States study. The participants provided data on their sleep habits and chronic health conditions across two time points spanning a 10-year interval. This data encompassed various aspects such as sleep regularity, duration, satisfaction, and daytime alertness, as well as the number and types of chronic conditions.
The analysis of the collected data led the researchers to identify four distinct sleep patterns:
- Good sleepers: Characterized by optimal sleep habits across all data points.
- Weekend catch-up sleepers: Characterized by irregular sleep, particularly short sleep duration on average, but longer sleep times on weekends or non-workdays.
- Insomnia sleepers: Characterized by sleep problems associated with clinical symptoms of insomnia, including short sleep duration, high daytime tiredness, and difficulty falling asleep.
- Nappers: Characterized by mostly good sleep but regular daytime napping.
The study unveiled that more than half of the participants could be categorized as either insomnia sleepers or nappers, both of which represent suboptimal sleep patterns. Moreover, remaining an insomnia sleeper throughout the 10-year period significantly increased the likelihood of developing chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression.
The results further demonstrated that individuals were generally resistant to changing their sleep pattern over the course of the decade, especially among insomnia sleepers and nappers. While it is important to note that the MIDUS study is primarily comprised of healthy adults and may not be entirely representative of the entire population, it is still intriguing that most participants displayed suboptimal sleep patterns typical of insomnia sleepers or nappers.
Commenting on the findings, Soomi Lee stated, “These results may suggest that it is very difficult to change our sleep habits because sleep health is embedded into our overall lifestyle. It may also suggest that people still don’t know about the importance of their sleep and about sleep health behaviors. We need to make more efforts to educate the public about good sleep health, such as avoiding the use of cell phones in bed, engaging in regular exercise, and limiting late afternoon caffeine consumption.”
The study also revealed that while sleep patterns didn’t appear to be strongly associated with age, older adults and retirees were more likely to be classified as nappers. Furthermore, individuals with lower levels of education and those facing unemployment showed higher tendencies to be categorized as insomnia sleepers.
Lee explains, “The fact that phase of life and economic conditions can influence sleep patterns suggests that societal and neighborhood influences, including economic stressors and access to health resources, may play significant roles in individual health and sleep patterns.”
These extensive findings underscore the necessity for well-targeted programs and interventions to promote healthy sleep and sleep habits. The existence of distinct sleep patterns also emphasizes that these interventions should be personalized and consider various factors such as the individual’s risk of chronic conditions and socioeconomic vulnerabilities.
In conclusion, sleep plays a fundamental role in overall health, and improving sleep habits can yield numerous significant benefits, including fostering better social relationships, enhancing work performance, promoting long-term healthy behaviors, and promoting healthy aging.
Funding: This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging
Researchers: Soomi Lee, Orfeu Buxton, and David Almeida from Penn State University, along with collaborators from the University of South Florida, University of Pittsburgh, and Arizona State University contributed to this study.
About this sleep and health research news: This research presents a comprehensive analysis of sleep patterns and their implications for long-term health. It is notable for identifying specific sleep patterns related to chronic health conditions.
