Catching Up on Weekend Sleep May Significantly Cut Heart Disease Risk

London, United Kingdom – August 29, 2024: New insights from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) suggest a weekend lie-in could be more than just a restful indulgence. Sleeping in on weekends may help reduce the risk of heart disease by approximately 20%, according to research unveiled at the ESC Congress 2024.

Mr. Yanjun Song from Beijing's State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease and colleague Mr. Zechen Liu presented findings that highlight the beneficial effects of 'catch-up' sleep on heart health. This is particularly pronounced in individuals who consistently get insufficient sleep during weekdays.

The study tapped into the extensive UK Biobank data involving 90,903 subjects to examine whether additional sleep obtained over the weekend can compensate for inadequate sleep during the work week—and its subsequent effects on cardiovascular health. Using accelerometer-measured sleep data, participants were categorized into four quartiles, from the least to the most compensated sleep.

Out of nearly 21% of participants experiencing sleep deprivation, defined as less than 7 hours of sleep per night, those in the highest compensatory sleep quartile (1.28 to 16.06 additional hours) demonstrated a 19% lower likelihood of developing heart disease compared to the lowest quartile.

Surprisingly, this trend did not differ between genders, indicating that the benefits of catching up on sleep might be universal. The research's notable limitation lies in its reliance on self-reported measures for sleep deprivation, which might not capture occasional sleep deficits.

Over an extensive follow-up period of almost 14 years, hospital records and death registries were employed to diagnose heart ailments such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. The results were clear; those with more weekend sleep were significantly less likely to suffer from heart conditions.

Funded by grants from the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences and free from conflicts of interest, this study shines a light on the connections between lifestyle habits and cardiovascular health. With the advent of such research, future healthcare recommendations might include advice on catching up on sleep as a preventive measure against heart disease.

For further details on this study, the abstract titled "Weekend compensatory sleep is associated with reduced risk of heart disease: a prospective UK Biobank-based cohort study" will be presented at the session ‘Exploring cardiovascular health: lifestyle, economics, and disparities’ on Sunday, September 1, 2024.

As modern life often infringes on sleep schedules, Mr. Liu urges awareness of this simple, yet impactful lifestyle change that could lead to lower rates of heart disease. Moreover, this study builds on previous findings presented at past ESC Congresses, reinforcing the crucial link between sleep and cardiovascular health.

For more information on the implications of this research, visit the European Society of Cardiology’s ESC Congress proceedings.

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