News

Actions

Study: Poor sleep may increase risk of disease, premature death in people with risk factors

High blood pressure, sugar tied to increased risk
Posted at 5:54 PM, May 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-25 17:56:19-04

CINCINNATI -- Researchers found poor sleep can cause premature death for people who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other metabolic risk factors. 

People who have three or more metabolic risk factors and slept less than six hours a night were twice as likely to have died when compared to those with similar risks who slept more than six hours a night, according to a Pennsylvania State University study published in the Journal of American Heart Association.

The study examined the metabolic risk measures and sleep duration of 1,300 people over the course of 16 years.

Dr. Richard Becker leads all cardiovascular services for University of Cincinnati Health. He says the study is important because it examined individuals who were fairly young for over a decade.

“There's some rigor there, and with that it carries a robustness that should resonate with the lay and medical community both,” Becker said.