Association between sleep duration and risk of new-onset gastric diseases in middle-aged and older adults: A prospective cohort study in China.
TL;DR
Shorter nighttime sleep duration was independently associated with an increased risk of new-onset gastric diseases in middle-aged and older adults, with stronger associations observed among females, married individuals, and rural residents.
Abstract
Insufficient sleep has been linked to an increased risk of gastric diseases among middle-aged and older adults. However, prospective evidence on the relationship between sleep duration and the incidence of gastric diseases remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal associations of nighttime sleep and daytime nap duration with the risk of new-onset gastric diseases in an elderly Chinese population. Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), conducted from 2011 to 2020. A total of 7,539 participants aged ≥ 45 y and free of gastric diseases at baseline were included and followed for up to 9 y. Nighttime sleep duration and daytime nap duration were collected through self-reported questionnaires at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models were used as the primary analysis to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Multiple logistic regression models were employed for predictive metrics (C-statistic, continuous Net Reclassification Improvement [NRI], and Integrated Discrimination Improvement [IDI]). Restricted cubic spline analyses were employed to explore the dose-response relationship between sleep duration and the risk of new-onset gastric diseases. Among the 7,539 individuals included in the cohort, 1,452 (19. 3%) were diagnosed with new-onset gastric diseases. Participants with shorter nighttime sleep duration had a significantly higher risk of developing gastric diseases. Specifically, each interquartile range increase in nighttime sleep duration was associated with a 14% reduction in risk (HR: 0. 86; 95% CI: 0. 79-0. 95). Compared to those in the shortest sleep quartile, participants in the longest quartile experienced an approximately 20% lower risk (HR: 0. 80; 95% CI: 0. 64-1. 01; p = 0. 06). No significant association was found between daytime nap duration and the incidence of gastric diseases. Stratified analyses yielded consistent results across demographic and clinical subgroups, with stronger associations observed among females, married individuals, and rural residents. Shorter nighttime sleep duration was independently associated with an increased risk of new-onset gastric diseases in middle-aged and older adults. In contrast, daytime napping showed no significant relationship with gastric disease risk. These findings underscore nighttime sleep duration as a potentially modifiable factor for gastric disease prevention among older populations.