<p>The Relationship of Sleep Duration with Ethnicity and Chronic Disease in a Canadian General Population Cohort</p>

Abstract

These authors contributed equally to this work Study Objectives: Sleep duration is an important marker of sleep quality and overall sleep health. Both too little and too much sleep are associated with poorer health outcomes. We hypothesized that ethnicity-specific differences in sleep duration exist. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized questionnaire data from the Ontario Health Study (OHS), a multi-ethnic population-based cohort of Canadian adult residents aged 18 to 99 years, who provided medical, socio-demographic, and sleep information. Generalised linear models were used to investigate the association of sleep duration with ethnicity.Results: The study sample consisted of 143,307 adults (60.4% women). The sample was multi-ethnic, including self-identified Aboriginal, Arab, Black, Chinese, Filipino, Hispanic, Japanese, Korean, Mixed (>1 ethnicity), South Asian, South-East Asian, West Asian, and White ethnicities. Univariate analyses found that mean sleep duration compared to the White reference group (7.34 hours) was shorter in the Filipino (6.93 hours, 25 min less), Black (6.96 hours, 23 min less), Japanese (7.02 hours, 19 min less), Chinese (7.23 hours, 7 min less), and Mixed (7.27 hours, 4 min less) groups (all P<0.001). Mean sleep duration was shorter in men (7.25 hours) compared to women (7.37 hours) in the cohort as a whole (P<0.001), and in all ethnic groups (P<0.001). Multivariate analyses, adjusted for a wide range of potential risk factors, and analysis of sleep duration as a categorical variable ("short", "average", and "long" sleepers) confirmed these relationships. Both sleep duration and ethnicity were independent significant predictors of a range of physician-diagnosed morbidities including diabetes, stroke, and depression. Conclusion: Important differences exist in sleep duration between ethnic groups and may contribute to observed health disparities. Our results highlight the need for ethnicity-specific targeted education on the importance of prioritizing sleep for good health, and the need to account appropriately for ethnicity in future epidemiological, clinical, and translational research into sleep and related conditions.

Relationship between sleep duration and sociodemographic characteristics, mental health and chronic diseases in individuals aged from 18 to 85 years old in Guangdong province in China: a population-based cross-sectional study

“…Comorbidities of sleep problem have aroused people's attention. Short and long sleep duration have been suggested to be risk factors for chronic diseases [8]. Insomnia problem is a common cause of short sleep duration.…”

The multidimensionality of sleep in population‐based samples: a narrative review

“…Black people are more likely and Asian people less likely to experience daytime sleepiness, compared to Whites (Baron et al, 2010; Chen et al, 2015). On the other hand, several studies find a higher prevalence of insomnia complaints and non‐restorative sleep among White individuals or those with a mixed background (Grandner et al, 2010; Matthews et al, 2018; Phillips & Mannino, 2005; Singh et al, 2020). In general, epidemiological studies on the link between origin and the nature and prevalence of sleep complaints yield rather mixed results (Grandner et al, 2010; Halder et al, 2015; Matthews et al, 2018; Mezick et al, 2008).…”

“…Notably, adult women report the use of sleep medication more frequently compared to men (Fernandez‐Mendoza et al, 2012; Kocevska et al, 2021; Middelkoop et al, 1996). Yet, the ranges of self‐reported sleep duration reported in the literature indicate that adolescent girls (7.2–8.4 h) and boys (7.4–8.5 h) largely get similar amounts of sleep per night (Adam et al, 2007; Kocevska et al, 2021; Matthews et al, 2014; Spilsbury et al, 2004), and that adult women generally sleep slightly longer per night (6.7–7.4 h) than men of similar age (6.8–7.25 h) (Gilmour et al, 2013; Kocevska et al, 2021; Liu et al, 2021; Singh et al, 2020; Tang et al, 2017).…”

“…Research into disparities in sleep duration has primarily come from North America and focusses on origin. The prevalence of short and long sleepers is higher in Blacks/African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, Asians, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaskan Natives, compared with Whites, Americans of mixed origin and foreign‐born US residents (Carnethon et al, 2016; Cunningham et al, 2016; Fox et al, 2018; Gamaldo et al, 2015; Hale & Do, 2007; Liang et al, 2020; Matthews et al, 2018; Nunes et al, 2008; Singh et al, 2020; Whinnery et al, 2014). European studies have additionally reported that the prevalence of not getting the recommended hours of sleep in ethnic minorities might be up to two‐times higher than in ethnic‐Europeans (Anujuo et al, 2014; Malone et al, 2016).…”

“…Notably, adult women report the use of sleep medication more frequently compared to men(Fernandez-Mendoza et al, 2012;Kocevska et al, 2021;Middelkoop et al, 1996). Yet, the ranges of self-reported sleep duration reported in the literature indicate that adolescent girls (7.2-8.4 h) and boys (7.4-8.5 h) largely get similar amounts of sleep per night(Adam et al, 2007;Kocevska et al, 2021;Matthews et al, 2014;Spilsbury et al, 2004), and that adult women generally sleep slightly longer per night (6.7-7.4 h) than men of similar age (6.8-7.25 h)(Gilmour et al, 2013;Kocevska et al, 2021;Liu et al, 2021;Singh et al, 2020;Tang et al, 2017).3.2 | Objective assessments of sleepCommon sleep parameters display sex differences that remain significant upon adjustment for sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors when measured with PSG and actigraphy. Objectively estimated night-time sleep duration shows that women might sleep up to 45 min longer than men(James et al, 2020;Lauderdale et al, 2006;Matthews et al, 2014;Moore et al, 2011;Roehrs et al, 2006;Wendt et al, 2020).…”