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Irregular Sleep Linked to Double Heart Risk
11 Apr
Summary
- Irregular sleep and less than 8 hours sleep doubles MACE risk.
- Study linked irregular bedtimes to nearly double MACE risk.
- Consistent sleep habits are crucial for heart health promotion.
A comprehensive study published in BMC Cardiovascular Disorders highlights a strong connection between irregular sleep habits and an elevated risk of cardiovascular events. Researchers tracked over 3,200 adults in Finland for a decade, using wrist activity monitors to analyze sleep patterns.
The findings indicate that participants with irregular bedtimes and less than eight hours of sleep per night faced nearly double the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared to those with consistent sleep schedules. MACE includes conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
Further analysis revealed that variability in bedtime and the midpoint of sleep were significant risk factors, particularly for individuals sleeping less than eight hours. The study concludes that consistent sleep behavior, especially regular bedtimes, is a vital target for health promotion efforts.
This research builds upon previous findings, including a 2025 study in Biomarker Research that linked even short periods of sleep deprivation to increased heart attack and stroke risk, even in younger, otherwise healthy individuals.
