Abstract
Normal timing and duration of sleep is vital for all physical and mental health. However, many sleep-related studies depend on self-reported sleep measurements, which have limitations. This study aims to investigate the association of physical activity and sociodemographic characteristics including age, gender, coffee intake and social status with objective sleep measurements. A cross-sectional analysis was carried out on 82995 participants within the UK Biobank cohort. Sociodemographic and lifestyle information were collected through touch-screen questionnaires in 2007-2010. Sleep and physical activity parameters were later measured objectively using wrist-worn accelerometers in 2013-2015 (participants were aged 43-79 years and wore watches for 7 days). Participants were divided into 5 groups based on their objective sleep duration per night (<5 hours, 5-6 hours, 6-7 hours, 7-8 hours and >8 hours). Binary logistic models were adjusted for age, gender and Townsend Deprivation Index. Participants who slept 6-7 hours/night were the most frequent (33.5%). Females had longer objective sleep duration than males. Short objective sleep duration (<6 hours) correlated with older age, social deprivation and high coffee intake. Finally, those who slept 6-7 hours/night were most physically active. Objectively determined short sleep duration was associated with male gender, older age, low social status and high coffee intake. An inverse 'U-shaped' relationship between sleep duration and physical activity was also established. Optimal sleep duration for health in those over 60 may therefore be shorter than younger groups.
Highlights
Sleep is vital for the normal regulation of mood, cognition and metabolism[1]
Large cohort studies assessing self-reported sleep duration showed that 7–8 hours consistently emerged as the ideal duration for good health in 18– 65 year olds[3]
Across-sectional analysis was conducted on baseline data and objectively assessed accelerometry data from the UK Biobank
Summary
Sleep is vital for the normal regulation of mood, cognition and metabolism[1]. Sleep disorders are common amongst the ageing population and sleep disturbance from any cause is increasingly recognised as a biomarker for unhealthy ageing[2]. Ideal duration of sleep remains debated and undoubtedly total sleep time changes with age, but “8 hours/night” has become defined as a somewhat idealised norm. Large cohort studies assessing self-reported sleep duration showed that 7–8 hours consistently emerged as the ideal duration for good health in 18– 65 year olds[3]. >50% of those older than 65 years of age have chronic sleep complaints including difficulties in initiating and maintaining sleep. Sleep disturbance is associated with worse physical and mental health, cognitive impairment and falls but correlation remains debated[4]. Females are more likely to self-report a longer sleep duration than males[7] and males tend to experience lighter sleep than females[8]. Females self-report more sleep complaints and insomnia[9]
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