Cited by 605Sleep and related disordersSleep and Work-Related FatigueSleep and Wakefulness Research

Sleep habits and susceptibility to the common cold

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Cohen, Sheldon, Doyle, William J., Alper, Cuneyt M., Janicki-Deverts, Denise, Turner, Ronald B.·2009·Archives of Internal Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sleep quality is thought to be an important predictor of immunity and, in turn, susceptibility to the common cold. This article examines whether sleep duration and efficiency in the weeks preceding viral exposure are associated with cold susceptibility. METHODS: A total of 153 healthy men and women (age range, 21-55 years) volunteered to participate in the study. For 14 consecutive days, they reported their sleep duration and sleep efficiency (percentage of time in bed actually asleep) for the previous night and whether they felt rested. Average scores for each sleep variable were calculated over the 14-day baseline. Subsequently, participants were quarantined, administered nasal drops containing a rhinovirus, and monitored for the development of a clinical cold (infection in the presence of objective signs of illness) on the day before and for 5 days after exposure. RESULTS: There was a graded association with average sleep duration: participants with less than 7 hours of sleep were 2.94 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-7.30) more likely to develop a cold than those with 8 hours or more of sleep. The association with sleep efficiency was also graded: participants with less than 92% efficiency were 5.50 times (95% CI, 2.08-14.48) more likely to develop a cold than those with 98% or more efficiency. These relationships could not be explained by differences in prechallenge virus-specific antibody titers, demographics, season of the year, body mass, socioeconomic status, psychological variables, or health practices. The percentage of days feeling rested was not associated with colds. CONCLUSION: Poorer sleep efficiency and shorter sleep duration in the weeks preceding exposure to a rhinovirus were associated with lower resistance to illness.

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Authors
Cohen, S., Doyle, W. J., Alper, C. M., Janicki-Deverts, D., & Turner, R. B.
Affiliations
  • Carnegie Mellon University (US)
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
Venue
Archives of Internal Medicine
Published
2009-01-12
Volume
169
Issue
1
Pages
62
ISSN
0003-9926 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2097663158
Cited by
605
References
27
Citations by year
2026: 35 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 47 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 62 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 26
FWCI
37.60
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Archives of Internal Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • KiltHub Repository (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • KiltHub Repository
Funders
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL65111, HL65112, P50HL065112, P50HL065111)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI066367, AI066367)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
Keywords
sleep duration, sleep efficiency, common cold, rhinovirus infection, cold sensitivity, immune resistance, sleep deprivation, nasal challenge
MeSH terms
Adult, Common Cold, Disease Susceptibility, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Predictive Value of Tests, Probability, Surveys and Questionnaires, Reference Values, Risk Factors, Sleep, Sleep Wake Disorders, Cohort Studies, Prevalence, Multivariate Analysis, Confidence Intervals, Linear Models, Logistic Models, Odds Ratio, Polysomnography, Young Adult

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