Some sleep problems are associated with multimorbidity

1. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, short sleep duration, long sleep duration, and insomnia were associated with higher odds of multimorbidity.

2. There were also associations between multimorbidity and snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

It is well known that those who experience sleep problems, including insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, are more susceptible to chronic health conditions. Multimorbidity is the existence of two or more chronic health conditions in a given individual. Although there is evidence of a link between sleep disturbances and chronic health conditions, the impact of sleep problems on multimorbidity has not been elucidated. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the potential association between sleep problems and multimorbidity.

Of 20,902 identified records, 17 studies (n=133,575 participants) published between 2005 and 2021 were included in the review. Observational studies that investigated an association between any sleep problem and multimorbidity were included. Studies were excluded if they investigated sleep problems in children or adolescents. The review was performed using PRISMA guidelines. The study quality was assessed using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The primary outcome was the association between sleep problems and multimorbidity.

The results demonstrated that there were higher odds of multimorbidity in those with short sleep duration, long sleep duration, and insomnia. There were also associations between multimorbidity and snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome. Despite these findings, the study was limited by the inclusion of primarily cross-sectional studies, which prevented the investigation of the long-term effects of sleep problems on multimorbidity. Nonetheless, the study provided evidence suggesting that sleep problems may negatively impact multimorbidity.

Click to read the study in Public Health Reviews

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