Catching Up on Weekend Sleep... "Actually Better," Surprising Research Findings

Chinese Researchers, UK Data Analysis
Measurement of Adult Weekday Sleep and Weekend Compensation
Group with More Weekend Compensatory Sleep Shows Reduced Heart Disease Risk
Mixed Research Results but Recent Studies Suggest "Weekend Naps Are Beneficial"

A study has found that catching up on lost sleep during the weekend with naps is beneficial for heart health.

On the 30th (local time), US-based CNN obtained an abstract from a Chinese research team to be presented at the European Society of Cardiology Annual Meeting on September 1, reporting that "weekend naps can reduce the risk of heart disease by 19%." The National Key Research Program on Cardiovascular Diseases at Beijing Fuwai Hospital conducted the study using data from 90,903 participants involved in the UK Biobank study. This research tracked the health outcomes of over 500,000 people aged 40 to 69 in the UK. Participants' sleep duration data was measured using activity monitoring watches, and they were divided into four groups based on how much weekend sleep they compensated for lost sleep during the week, ranging from the group that compensated the least to the group that compensated the most. Group 1 slept 0.26 to 16.05 hours less on weekends, while Group 4, at the opposite end of the spectrum, slept 1.28 to about 16 hours more on weekends than on weekdays.

After an average follow-up period of 14 years, the group with the most weekend compensatory sleep had a 19% lower likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke compared to the group with the least weekend compensatory sleep. Among the subgroup of participants who experienced chronic sleep deprivation (defined as less than 7 hours of sleep per night), those who had the most compensatory sleep had a 20% lower risk of heart disease than those who slept the least. No differences were found in the results based on gender. Dr. Nika Goldberg, an assistant clinical professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said in an email interview with CNN, "Although this study has limitations, such as focusing only on the UK population, the findings highlight the negative impact of chronic sleep deprivation on cardiovascular health."

CNN pointed out that while there have been various studies on weekend naps with mixed results, recent research suggests that "if individuals are sleep-deprived during the week, getting sufficient compensatory sleep on weekends may have protective effects," according to experts. Of course, weekday sleep is more important than weekend naps. Many experts told CNN, "To promote heart health, it is recommended to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night and maintain a consistent sleep pattern," adding, "It is best to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day whenever possible."