New research presented at the ESC Congress 2024 suggests that people who ‘catch up’ on their sleep by sleeping in at weekends may have a lower risk of heart disease. The study, conducted by researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Centre for Cardiovascular Disease in Beijing, China, found that sufficient compensatory sleep is associated with a 20% reduction in the risk of developing heart disease. This association is even more pronounced for individuals who regularly experience inadequate sleep during the week.
The study analyzed data from 90,903 participants in the UK Biobank project and used accelerometers to record sleep data. Participants were divided into quartiles based on their level of compensated weekend sleep, ranging from the least compensated to the most. Those who reported less than 7 hours of sleep per night were classified as sleep deprived, with 21.8% of participants falling into this category. Hospitalization records and cause of death information were used to diagnose various cardiac diseases, including ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke.
Over a median follow-up period of nearly 14 years, participants in the group with the most compensatory sleep (quartile 4) had a 19% lower risk of developing heart disease compared to those in the group with the least compensatory sleep (quartile 1). Among participants who reported daily sleep deprivation, those with the most compensatory sleep had a 20% lower risk of heart disease. Interestingly, the analysis did not show any differences in risk between men and women, suggesting that compensatory sleep may benefit individuals of all genders.
Study co-author Mr. Zechen Liu emphasized the importance of catching up on sleep for individuals who regularly experience sleep deprivation in modern society. He noted that those who have the most ‘catch-up’ sleep at weekends have significantly lower rates of heart disease compared to those with the least compensatory sleep. The findings of this study suggest that compensatory sleep may play a crucial role in maintaining heart health, especially for individuals who struggle to get adequate sleep during the week due to work or school schedules.
While it is well known that people often sleep in on days off to make up for sleep deprivation, there has been a lack of research on the impact of compensatory sleep on heart health. This study adds to the growing body of evidence on the benefits of sufficient sleep for cardiovascular health. The authors acknowledge that their study has limitations, including self-reported sleep deprivation and the lack of detailed information on sleep patterns. However, the results provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of catching up on sleep for reducing the risk of heart disease.
In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of compensatory sleep for individuals who experience inadequate sleep during the week. Those who engage in more compensatory sleep on weekends may have a lower risk of developing heart disease compared to those who do not. These findings underscore the significance of maintaining healthy sleep patterns for overall cardiovascular health and suggest that prioritizing sleep may offer significant benefits for heart disease prevention. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms underlying the relationship between compensatory sleep and heart health and to develop targeted interventions for individuals at risk of sleep deprivation-related cardiovascular issues.