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Excessive sitting, TV viewing increase risk for sleep disturbance, apnea

Excessive sitting and sitting while watching television were linked with increased sleep disturbances and an increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea, according to study results.

“In addition to standard risk factors (weight, daytime sleepiness) for OSA and sleep difficulties, sitting should be considered as another potential factor,” Matthew P. Buman, PhD, of the School of Nutrition and Health Promotion at Arizona State University, told Healio.com/Allergy. “Given the many other negative health impacts that excessive sitting may have, patients should consider reducing their overall sitting (and TV viewing in particular) to improve overall health and potential lower risk for sleep problems.”

Matthew P. Buman

Buman and colleagues examined results of the 2013 National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America poll to determine whether total sitting time and sitting while watching TV were associated with the quality and duration of sleep as well as sleepiness and risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Data were collected from Oct. 19 to Nov. 12, 2012, and survey results were analyzed from 843 participants aged 23 to 60 years.

Obese participants (26%) reported similar total sitting time (6.6 hours daily vs. 6.2 hours daily) but more TV watching (2.4 hours daily vs. 2 hours daily) than normal/overweight participants.

Those who classified themselves as being physically active (44.6%) reported less total sitting (5.9 hours daily vs. 6.6 hours daily) and TV watching (1.8 hours daily vs. 2.4 hours daily) than participants considered physically inactive (P < .0001).

“The data presented here suggest that being physically active decreases the linkage between television viewing, poor sleep, and OSA,” the researchers wrote.

Watching TV while sitting for each additional hour daily was linked with waking up too early (OR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.23), poor sleep quality (OR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.02-1.24) as well as an increased likelihood of developing OSA (OR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04-1.28).

“This investigation represents a first step in understanding the relationship between sitting and sleep, and can serve to generate hypotheses for future research,” the researchers wrote. “Sitting time and television viewing appear to be novel and important risk factors for sleep quality and OSA risk.” –by Ryan McDonald

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.