New Study Links Poor Sleep to Chronic Illnesses

A groundbreaking global study involving more than 88,000 adults has revealed that inconsistent sleep patterns and disrupted circadian rhythms are strongly tied to a dramatically higher risk of dozens of chronic diseases.Researchers used objective sleep data (via wearable devices) over nearly 7 years, and identified strong links between irregular bedtimes and over 90 health conditions.
Particularly alarming are the findings that some sleep traits are associated with a 2.6-fold increase in risk for severe diseases — for example, going to bed after midnight was linked to a higher risk of liver cirrhosis, and low sleep rhythm stability was associated with gangrene. These results challenge conventional notions: it’s not just how long you sleep, but how regularly you sleep, that may drive disease risk.
Other recent research supports this connection. A study from Uppsala University showed that even a few nights of poor sleep can spark inflammation by raising levels of certain proteins in the blood — inflammation that’s strongly linked to heart disease. Separately, a long-term analysis found that people getting five hours or less of sleep per night had significantly higher odds of developing multiple chronic diseases — including diabetes, heart disease, and kidney problems.
Experts say these findings call for a shift in how we think about healthy sleep — not only focusing on duration, but also how consistent and well‑timed our sleep is. Public health campaigns may need to emphasize sleep regularity, while clinicians could begin screening for sleep irregularities as part of chronic disease prevention.