The association between sleep duration and chronic diseases: a population-based cross-sectional study

Objectives: To examine the cross-sectional relationship between sleep duration and 11 chronic diseases (risk of obesity, depression, diabetes, asthma, COPD, arthritis, kidney, CHD, stroke, and cancer [excluding skin cancer]) by using data from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Methods: Using data from the 2013, 2014 and 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a total sample consisted of 1,191,768 participants. Logistic regression models were constructed to calculate OR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between sleep duration and 11 chronic diseases. In addition, we also conducted subgroup analysis based on age and gender.

Results: In multi-adjusted model, the positive association between extremely short or long sleep duration and risk of chronic diseases was significant (P < 0.05) with the exception of skin cancer (P = 0.14 and P = 0.43). There are stronger association between extremely short or long sleep duration and obesity, diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis, kidney, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer in women and aged 18-64 years old.

Conclusions: Our results indicated a higher risk of common chronic diseases due to short or long sleep duration in women and aged 18-64 years. Further studies are needed to demonstrate these association.