Adults who consistently sleep less than five hours a night have a significantly higher risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, dementia, and cancer. This has been confirmed by numerous studies that have shown how insufficient sleep negatively affects the health of both adults and children, increasing the risk of various diseases such as dementia. Researchers from the University College London (UCL) and the University of Paris have conducted a long-term study with 7,800 participants to determine when short sleep becomes harmful to health. The study, published in the journal PLoS Medicine, followed the average nightly sleep duration and health status of 50-year-old participants for over 25 years, focusing on multimorbidity, the occurrence of multiple chronic diseases.
Multimorbidity is becoming increasingly common in industrialized countries, with more than half of older adults already having at least two chronic diseases. The study aimed to determine how insufficient sleep is related to conditions such as high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, dementia, arthritis, and chronic liver or kidney disease. The analysis of long-term data showed that people over 50 who sleep less than five hours a night have a significantly higher risk (20%) of developing a first chronic disease compared to those who sleep seven to eight hours. If the short sleep duration is maintained, the risk of developing a second chronic disease is even higher (40%). For seniors over 60, sleeping less than five hours a night also significantly increases the risk of multimorbidity (30 to 40%).
The study also examined whether particularly long sleep durations of nine hours or more affect health. They found no effects on middle-aged people, but for seniors who already suffer from at least one chronic disease, particularly long sleep increases the risk of developing further chronic diseases. The recommendation is to sleep for around seven to eight hours a night to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. To improve sleep hygiene, it is advisable to keep the bedroom dark and well-tempered, avoid large meals before bedtime, and avoid electronic devices.
In conclusion, the study provides evidence of a link between short sleep duration and the development of multiple chronic diseases. It highlights the importance of getting enough sleep to maintain good health and prevent chronic diseases. The study’s findings can help healthcare professionals provide better advice to patients on how to improve their sleep habits and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
