Later sleep timing and social jetlag are related to increased inflammation in a population with a high proportion of OSA: findings from the Cleveland Family Study

Study objectives: To examine the association between sleep midpoint and inflammation in a population with a large proportion of individuals diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), a group that is already prone to increased inflammation.

Methods: Subjects from the Cleveland Family Study underwent overnight polysomnography and completed surveys on sleep habits. Morning and evening blood samples were collected and assayed for proinflammatory biomarkers interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Linear regression models were used, adjusting for potential confounders and sleep duration.

Results: The study population included 587 adults (52.3% with OSAS). Mean ± standard deviation weekday sleep midpoint was 3.52 ± 2.09 (3:31 am) and weekend sleep midpoint was 4.46 ± 1.69 (4:28 am). The Mean difference between weekday and weekend sleep midpoint (social jetlag) was 0.94 ± 2.08 hours. After adjusting for OSA severity, greater social jetlag was associated with higher levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1 (beta: 0.435 pg/mL, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.091 to 0.779). Additionally, later timing of sleep during both the weekdays and the weekends was associated with increased levels of IL-6 (weekday beta: 0.182 pg/mL; 95% CI: 0.013 to 0.350; and weekend beta: 0.188 pg/mL; 95% CI: 0.004 to 0.373). No trends were observed with TNF-α and any sleep exposure.

Conclusions: Later sleep timing was associated with elevated levels of IL-6 while increased social jetlag was associated with elevated levels of IL-1. Our results indicate that later sleep schedules and increased social jetlag may lead to higher inflammation, even after controlling for OSA severity.

Citation: Girtman KL, Baylin A, O'Brien LM, Jansen EC. Later sleep timing and social jetlag are related to increased inflammation in a population with a high proportion of OSA: findings from the Cleveland Family Study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(9):2179-2187.