Short sleep, lifestyle, cardiovascular risk, and health awareness among Polish final-year secondary school students: findings from a nationwide study

Abstract

Background Sleep is an important regulator of metabolic and cardiovascular health. Insufficient sleep is associated with adverse health behaviors and increased cardiovascular risk in young adults. Understanding sleep patterns and risk awareness in this group is essential for prevention. Methods A nationally representative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 9,874 final-year Polish secondary school students. The questionnaire assessed sleep duration, physical activity, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, screen time, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure. Associations between weekday sleep duration and lifestyle factors and cardiovascular risk were analyzed. Results Over 46% of students reported sleeping less than 7 h on weekdays, with longer sleep on weekends (6.7 ± 1.3 vs. 9.0 ± 1.5 h, p < 0.001). Short sleep was associated with higher consumption of processed foods, alcohol use, tobacco smoking, lower winter physical activity, and greater screen time. Students sleeping <7 h were more often underweight or obese. Awareness of short sleep as a cardiometabolic risk factor was limited. Conclusions Insufficient sleep is common among Polish young adults and is associated with an unfavorable behavioral and cardiometabolic risk profile.