Irregular Sleep Patterns Linked to Higher Risk of Over 170 Diseases, Study Finds

Irregular Sleep Patterns Linked to Higher Risk of Over 170 Diseases, Study Finds
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A new large-scale study led by Peking University and Army Medical University has linked irregular sleep patterns to increased risk of 172 diseases, according to Fox News. Researchers analyzed sleep data from 88,461 adults over nearly seven years using the UK Biobank, correlating sleep traits—such as timing, duration, and fragmentation—with health records from the NHS and other databases.

Poor sleep behavior was associated with significantly higher risk for conditions including Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver cirrhosis. Inflammatory pathways may explain the connection. Experts highlighted the importance of sleep regularity, not just duration, in preventing chronic illnesses.

However, researchers noted limitations, including a single sleep data point and lack of assessment for sleep disorders. The findings were published in Health Data Science, and further studies are planned to explore causal links and the impact of sleep interventions.