Kumamoto, Japan — Older workers who don’t get enough sleep may have a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation – a condition in which the heart beats in an irregular way, according to Japanese researchers.
A team from Kumamoto University and the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center looked at data from more than 36,000 people in their 50s (“peak working age”) and 70s (“typical retirement age”). They found that, among participants in their 50s, less sleep was “significantly associated” with a higher likelihood of A-fib.
However, “each additional minute of sleep was linked to a measurable reduction in AF risk,” the researchers say in a university press release.
Added study co-author Tadashi Hoshiyama: “Our results provide objective evidence that sleep duration matters for heart rhythm health, particularly in working adults. Securing sufficient sleep may help reduce the burden of atrial fibrillation.”
The study was published in the journal Circulation Reports.
