Study Ties Healthy Sleep Duration to Reduced Sick Time From Work

A team of researchers has discovered a link between healthy sleep duration and reduced absence from work due to sickness.

Study conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine shows how critical it is for the adults to receive 7-8 hours of sleep per night. They claim that increasing sleep time helps reduce absence from work due to sickness as it boosts health. This study was done in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Optimal sleep duration should be promoted, as very long and very short sleep indicate health problems and subsequent sickness absence," said principal investigator Tea Lallukka, PhD, specialized researcher at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. "Those sleeping five hours or less, or 10 hours or more, were absent from work every year for 4.6 to 8.9 days more, as compared to those with the optimal sleep length."

The researchers studied 3,760 men and women in Finland who had been working at any time in the previous year. The participants were aged between 30-64 years at baseline. A questionnaire was used to determine the characteristics of sleep and health measures were derived from physical examination conducted by filed physicians. From the Social Insurance Institutions of Finland, they derived data of work absences due to sickness.

They also used a new statistical method to predict the average sickness absence days per working year. It was noticed that the direct cost of sickness absence to the Finnish government and employers could be reduced by 28 percent only if problems regarding sleep disturbances are fully addressed.

Lack of sufficient sleep triggers some health risks such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity that are today's major public health epidemics. A minimum of seven hours sleep is needed for overall well being, which means less sick time away from work.

"Insomnia symptoms should be detected early to help prevent sickness absence and deterioration in health, well-being and functioning," added Lallukka. "Successful prevention of insomnia not only promotes health and work ability among employees, but it can also lead to notable savings in reduced sickness absence costs."

The study was documented in the journal SLEEP.