International study links long daytime naps among older adults to increased mortality risk
Analysis of data from 4,447 people with an average age of about 70 in Vietnam showed that daily naps of an hour or more were associated with an increased likelihood of death, while short naps showed no statistical link.
An international study found that habitually taking a daily daytime nap lasting an hour or more is associated with an increased risk of death among older adults, without proving a direct causal relationship.
The research team analyzed data from 4,447 residents of Vietnam with an average age of about 70 years, and followed the participants for four years. The researchers assessed daytime nap duration and regularity, and nighttime sleep quality; during follow-up the study recorded 514 deaths.
According to the study's results, the likelihood of death among people who habitually napped for an hour or more was 39% higher compared with those who did not nap, and this association persisted even after adjusting the analysis for nighttime sleep quality and other potential confounding factors.
By contrast, short naps under 30 minutes, and daytime rest periods of 30 to 59 minutes, did not show any statistically significant association with a higher risk of death during the follow-up period.
The researchers noted that nighttime sleep quality influenced the relationship between daytime rest and mortality, but the elevated risk remained for those who habitually napped for more than an hour regardless of their nighttime sleep quality.
The study authors suggested that long naps may be an indicator of underlying health problems in older adults, and warned that the findings indicate an association and do not prove that napping itself causes increased deaths, as it may reflect preexisting disorders or medical conditions.
