Mortality associated with short sleep duration: The evidence, the possible mechanisms, and the future
Open accessAbstract
This review of the scientific literature examines the widely observed relationship between sleep duration and mortality. As early as 1964, data have shown that 7-h sleepers experience the lowest risks for all-cause mortality, whereas those at the shortest and longest sleep durations have significantly higher mortality risks. Numerous follow-up studies from around the world (e.g., Japan, Israel, Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom) show similar relationships. We discuss possible mechanisms, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, physiologic stress, immunity, and socioeconomic status. We put forth a social-ecological framework to explore five possible pathways for the relationship between sleep duration and mortality, and we conclude with a four-point agenda for future research.
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Sleep duration and mortality are associated in a U-shaped fashion, with lowest risk at 7-8 hours and increased risk with deviation.
“Sleep duration and mortality are associated in a U-shaped fashion, where lowest risk is usually found in those who sleep between 7-8 hours, and mortality risk increasing with further deviation on either end of the range.”
From Sleep: important considerations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (2016) · cites this paper as [12]
The overall pattern that both short and long sleep are associated with mortality risk has generally remained consistent across studies, although not all studies found this pattern.
“Taken together, this overall pattern of findings, that both short and long sleep are associated with mortality risk, has generally remained consistent across studies, although not all studies found this pattern.17”
From Sleep, Health, and Society (2017) · cites this paper as [17]
The precision of measurement of sleep in mortality studies is often poor.
“For example, the precision of measurement of sleep in these studies is often poor.17,27,35”
From Sleep, Health, and Society (2017) · cites this paper as [17]
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References 101 · Cited by 602
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [73]Gangwisch JE Heymsfield SB Boden-Albala B Sleep duration as a risk factor for diabetes incidence in a large U.S. sample Sleep Dec 1 2007 30 12 1667 1673 18246976 PMC2276127
- [95]Berkman LF Kawachi Io Social epidemiology New York Oxford University Press 2000
- Authors
- Grandner, M. A., Hale, L., Moore, M., & Patel, N. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Stony Brook University (US)
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (US)
- Corresponding author
- Grandner, Michael A.
- Venue
- Sleep Medicine Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-06
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 191-203
- ISSN
- 1087-0792 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2856739
- OpenAlex
- W2146175327
- Cited by
- 602
- References
- 101
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 71 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 26
- FWCI
- 20.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Sleep Medicine Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (T32HL007713)
- 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 › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Keywords
- sleep duration, all-cause mortality, short sleep duration, long sleep, cardiovascular disease, obesity, physiological stress, immunity, socioeconomic status, socio-ecological framework
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Arousal, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cause of Death, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Sleep, Sleep Deprivation, Sleep Wake Disorders, Socioeconomic Factors, Time Factors, Survival Analysis, Young Adult
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