Irregular Sleep and Body Clock Disruption Linked to Heart and Metabolic Disease Risk

Sleep irregularity is a robust risk factor for cardiometabolic disease and mortality.

• Epidemiological and clinical studies indicate a stronger relationship between sleep irregularity and cardiometabolic disease risk compared to earlier research.
• Sleep irregularity may be a more significant predictor of obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease than sleep duration.
• Potential pathways through which sleep irregularity could influence cardiometabolic health include biological, behavioral, and psychological factors.
• Current literature lacks standardized measures for assessing sleep irregularity and has limited intervention studies to evaluate its real-world effects.
• Gaps in understanding the mechanisms of sleep irregularity suggest a need for further research to inform clinical and public health strategies.

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