GITNUXREPORT 2026

Sleep Study Statistics

Poor sleep is extremely common and significantly harms both physical and mental health.

Alexander Schmidt

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

A meta-analysis of 45 sleep studies found that chronic short sleep duration (<6 hours) increases hypertension risk by 22% (RR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.15-1.30).

Statistic 2

Longitudinal data from the Nurses' Health Study (n=72,000) linked <5 hours sleep to a 15% higher risk of coronary heart disease (HR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.08-1.23).

Statistic 3

Short sleep (<7 hours) is associated with a 33% increased obesity risk (OR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.20-1.48) in a meta-analysis of 28 studies.

Statistic 4

Insufficient sleep (<7 hours) raises diabetes risk by 9% per hour less slept (meta-analysis of 35 studies, n=750,000).

Statistic 5

Sleep restriction to <6 hours/night increases all-cause mortality by 12% (HR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.06-1.18) in a 10-year follow-up of 21,000 adults.

Statistic 6

Long sleep (>9 hours) correlates with 30% higher stroke risk (RR=1.30, 95% CI: 1.15-1.47) in meta-analysis of 17 studies.

Statistic 7

Biphasic sleep patterns increase depression risk by 25% (OR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.10-1.42) in UK Biobank analysis.

Statistic 8

Poor sleep quality triples dementia risk (HR=3.0, 95% CI: 1.5-6.0) in 8-year Whitehall II cohort (n=5,000).

Statistic 9

Sleep-disordered breathing increases motor vehicle crash risk by 2.4-fold (OR=2.4, 95% CI: 1.8-3.2).

Statistic 10

Chronic insomnia doubles healthcare costs ($2,500 vs $1,200 annually per patient).

Statistic 11

OSA untreated raises atrial fibrillation risk by 4-fold in meta-analysis of 14 studies.

Statistic 12

Poor sleep linked to 20% higher breast cancer recurrence (HR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.05-1.38).

Statistic 13

Sleep curtailment impairs immune function, reducing vaccine antibody response by 50%.

Statistic 14

Insomnia symptoms predict 1.8-fold higher anxiety disorder incidence over 10 years.

Statistic 15

Long sleep duration (>8h) associated with 21% higher all-cause mortality.

Statistic 16

OSA increases healthcare utilization by 25% ($1,200 extra/year).

Statistic 17

Poor sleep hygiene scores correlate with 45% higher depression odds.

Statistic 18

Sleep fragmentation raises Alzheimer's beta-amyloid by 10% per year.

Statistic 19

Untreated OSA shortens life expectancy by 8 years in severe cases.

Statistic 20

Insomnia comorbid with pain increases opioid use 2-fold.

Statistic 21

Short sleep impairs next-day cognition by 0.2 SD units.

Statistic 22

Poor sleep raises COVID-19 hospitalization risk 1.6-fold.

Statistic 23

Sleep debt >2 weeks increases injury risk 30%.

Statistic 24

OSA in pregnancy increases preeclampsia odds 1.5-fold.

Statistic 25

In a 2022 polysomnography study of 1,200 adults, the average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 15.3 events per hour among those with mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Statistic 26

In the Sleep Heart Health Study cohort of 6,440 participants, severe OSA (AHI ≥30) was present in 6.2% of men and 2.9% of women.

Statistic 27

A 2021 study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine reported that insomnia prevalence is 23.7% among shift workers compared to 10.2% in day workers.

Statistic 28

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) affects 10-15% of the general population, rising to 20-30% in those over 65 per European RLS Study Group data.

Statistic 29

Narcolepsy type 1 prevalence is 25-50 per 100,000, with cataplexy reported in 70% of cases per International Classification of Sleep Disorders.

Statistic 30

Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) index >15/hour occurs in 4.7% of adults per Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study.

Statistic 31

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) prevalence is 0.5-1% in general population, rising to 13% in PD patients per systematic review.

Statistic 32

Central sleep apnea prevalence is 0.4% in general population, 15% in heart failure patients per AASM data.

Statistic 33

Hypersomnia prevalence is 5-10% in primary care, with idiopathic hypersomnia at 0.014% per meta-analysis.

Statistic 34

Kleine-Levin syndrome incidence is 1-2 per million per year, mostly adolescents per Orphanet data.

Statistic 35

Shift work disorder affects 10-40% of night shift workers, per AASM consensus.

Statistic 36

Exploding head syndrome reported by 14% lifetime prevalence in community surveys (n=2,000).

Statistic 37

Fatal familial insomnia prevalence <1 per million, with 40 families worldwide reported.

Statistic 38

Parasomnia prevalence 4% in children, 2% adults per ICSD-3 data.

Statistic 39

Idiopathic hypersomnia mean sleep latency <8 minutes on MSLT in 90% cases.

Statistic 40

Sleep-related eating disorder prevalence 4.5% in binge eating disorder patients.

Statistic 41

Non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder affects 70% of totally blind individuals.

Statistic 42

Confusional arousals weekly in 17.4% of children aged 3-6 years.

Statistic 43

Sexsomnia prevalence 7.1% males, 2.5% females in community sample.

Statistic 44

Night terrors lifetime prevalence 30-40% in children.

Statistic 45

Sleep enuresis 15% prevalence in 5-year-olds, 1.5% adults.

Statistic 46

Bruxism prevalence 8-10% awake, 31% sleep per AASM.

Statistic 47

Delayed sleep phase syndrome 7-16% in adolescents.

Statistic 48

Sleep talking prevalence 66.9% lifetime, 17.6% monthly.

Statistic 49

Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders 3% in psychiatric inpatients.

Statistic 50

Isolated sleep paralysis 40% lifetime prevalence.

Statistic 51

CDC data from 2020 BRFSS shows 34.3% of US adults aged 45-64 sleep less than 7 hours per night on workdays.

Statistic 52

Among 10,000 UK Biobank participants, average sleep duration was 7.1 hours, with 29% sleeping 6-7 hours nightly.

Statistic 53

NHANES 2017-2020 data indicates 37.1% of Hispanic adults sleep <7 hours compared to 32.4% of non-Hispanic whites.

Statistic 54

In a Japanese cohort of 3,000 adults, average sleep duration declined from 7.7 hours in 1988 to 6.9 hours in 2018.

Statistic 55

Australian adults average 7.0 hours sleep per night, with 45% of 18-24 year olds sleeping <7 hours per 2022 Sleep Health Foundation survey.

Statistic 56

In Canadian adults, 31% sleep 6-7 hours, per 2021 Statistics Canada survey of 10,000 respondents.

Statistic 57

European adults average 6.9 hours sleep on weekdays, per 2023 EU Sleep Survey of 12,000.

Statistic 58

US high school students average 6.8 hours sleep on school nights per 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n=17,000).

Statistic 59

Global average sleep duration is 6.8 hours per night per 2022 WHO sleep report.

Statistic 60

Brazilian adults: 26% sleep <6 hours per Vigitel 2022 survey (n=50,000).

Statistic 61

Finnish working population: average 7.2 hours sleep, 22% short sleepers per 2021 FINRISK.

Statistic 62

Singapore adults average 6.5 hours sleep weekdays per 2023 National Sleep Survey.

Statistic 63

South Korean adults: 33% sleep <7 hours per 2022 KNHANES (n=10,000).

Statistic 64

New Zealand Maori adults 42% short sleepers (<7h) vs 30% Europeans per 2021 survey.

Statistic 65

Chinese urban adults average 6.6 hours sleep per 2022 CHARLS follow-up.

Statistic 66

Indian adults 35% sleep <7 hours per 2023 NFHS-5 sleep module.

Statistic 67

Swedish adults average 7.1 hours, 28% insufficient per 2022 Public Health Agency.

Statistic 68

Mexican adults 38% <7 hours sleep per ENSANUT 2022.

Statistic 69

Turkish adults 29% short sleep per 2021 TEMAS survey.

Statistic 70

Russian adults average 6.9 hours per 2022 RLMS-HSE.

Statistic 71

Dutch adults 26% <7 hours per 2023 CBS Health Survey.

Statistic 72

Spanish adults average 6.8 hours weekdays per 2022 ENS.

Statistic 73

Italian adults 32% insufficient sleep per 2023 PASSI.

Statistic 74

The National Sleep Foundation's 2023 poll revealed that 41% of Americans aged 25-34 report poor sleep quality at least three nights per week.

Statistic 75

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores above 5 indicating poor sleep were found in 38% of college students in a survey of 2,500 participants.

Statistic 76

Actigraphy monitoring in 500 elderly showed sleep efficiency below 80% in 42% of participants aged 75+.

Statistic 77

Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) mean score was 9.2 in a community sample of 1,000, with 18% scoring >10 indicating excessive daytime sleepiness.

Statistic 78

Sleep onset latency >30 minutes was reported by 28% of participants in the American Time Use Survey sleep module (n=15,000).

Statistic 79

Wake after sleep onset (WASO) averaged 48 minutes in midlife women per SWAN study (n=3,200).

Statistic 80

Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores ≥15 affected 15% of healthcare workers during COVID-19 per global survey (n=20,000).

Statistic 81

Total sleep time fragmentation index >20% in 35% of older adults per actigraphy in MrOS study (n=3,000).

Statistic 82

Sleep diary reports show average nocturnal awakenings of 2.1 per night in perimenopausal women (n=1,100).

Statistic 83

Polysomnographic slow-wave sleep percentage is 18.5% in healthy young adults (age 20-30).

Statistic 84

Mean sleep efficiency 85.2% in infants 6-12 months per polysomnography norms.

Statistic 85

Stage N1 light sleep occupies 5% of total sleep time in adults per AASM scoring manual.

Statistic 86

REM sleep percentage 22.1% ± 3.2% in healthy adults 18-25 years.

Statistic 87

Arousal index 21.5/hour in untreated mild OSA per Sleep Heart Health Study.

Statistic 88

Sleep continuity measured by KRA index <85 in 25% of depressed patients.

Statistic 89

Delta power density peaks at 19.5 μV²/Hz in first NREM cycle young adults.

Statistic 90

Spindle density 147/hour in N2 sleep for ages 20-29 per normative data.

Statistic 91

Cyclic alternating pattern rate 28.5% in good sleepers per PSG norms.

Statistic 92

N3 sleep duration 60-120 minutes optimal in adults 18-60.

Statistic 93

Leg movement index 7.3/hour normative in adults >65.

Statistic 94

Sleep stage transitions average 120/night in healthy adults.

Statistic 95

Microarousal index 12.5/hour in young healthy controls.

Statistic 96

REM density 2.5/min in phasic REM periods.

Statistic 97

Sleep efficiency 92% normative for ages 10-18 years.

Statistic 98

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy reduced daytime sleepiness scores by 45% (ESS from 14.2 to 7.8) in a randomized trial of 150 OSA patients over 6 months.

Statistic 99

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) achieved 70% remission rates in a meta-analysis of 20 RCTs involving 1,228 patients.

Statistic 100

Mandibular advancement devices improved AHI by 52% (from 28.4 to 13.6) in 300 moderate OSA patients over 12 months.

Statistic 101

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation reduced AHI from 29.3 to 9.7 in 126 patients with CPAP-intolerant OSA over 12 months.

Statistic 102

Positional therapy reduced supine AHI by 65% in 100 positional OSA patients using a positional pillow device.

Statistic 103

Oral appliance therapy improved sleep efficiency from 82% to 88% in a crossover trial of 60 OSA patients.

Statistic 104

Weight loss of 10% body weight reduced AHI by 26% in 72 obese OSA patients over 1 year.

Statistic 105

Expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) devices lowered AHI from 19.5 to 7.9 in 145 patients.

Statistic 106

Bright light therapy improved sleep phase delay by 1.2 hours in 50 delayed sleep phase disorder patients.

Statistic 107

Melatonin supplementation advanced sleep onset by 34 minutes in 1,683 meta-analyzed trials.

Statistic 108

Surgical uvulopalatopharyngoplasty success rate 40-60% for AHI reduction >50%.

Statistic 109

Auto-CPAP titration achieved therapeutic pressure in 89% of 200 home sleep study patients.

Statistic 110

Temazepam reduced sleep latency by 19 minutes vs placebo in 120 insomnia patients.

Statistic 111

Bilevel PAP improved adherence to 70% vs 50% for CPAP in 300 complex apnea cases.

Statistic 112

Inspire therapy AHI reduction 68% at 12 months (n=191).

Statistic 113

Zolpidem sustained-release improved sleep maintenance by 25 minutes (n=1,016).

Statistic 114

Adenotonsillectomy cured OSA in 79% of children (AHI<1 post-op).

Statistic 115

Ramelteon reduced sleep latency by 16.5 minutes vs 8.9 placebo (n=405).

Statistic 116

Digital CBT-I apps remission rate 62% at 6 weeks (n=1,711).

Statistic 117

Maxillomandibular advancement surgery AHI success 85% (>50% reduction).

Statistic 118

ASV therapy normalized AHI <10 in 90% CSA heart failure patients.

Statistic 119

Doxepin 6mg improved WASO by 27 minutes (n=784).

Statistic 120

Tracheostomy resolves OSA AHI to <5 in 95% severe cases.

Statistic 121

Weighted blankets reduced ISI by 2.3 points (n=120).

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If you knew that nearly half of young adults are routinely tossing through poor sleep, a startling truth from a 2023 poll, you'd be rushing to uncover the unsettling science behind our collective exhaustion, which is exactly what this deep dive into sleep study statistics—from the dangers of mild apnea to the lifesaving power of a good night's rest—will reveal.

Key Takeaways

  • In a 2022 polysomnography study of 1,200 adults, the average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 15.3 events per hour among those with mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
  • In the Sleep Heart Health Study cohort of 6,440 participants, severe OSA (AHI ≥30) was present in 6.2% of men and 2.9% of women.
  • A 2021 study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine reported that insomnia prevalence is 23.7% among shift workers compared to 10.2% in day workers.
  • A meta-analysis of 45 sleep studies found that chronic short sleep duration (<6 hours) increases hypertension risk by 22% (RR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.15-1.30).
  • Longitudinal data from the Nurses' Health Study (n=72,000) linked <5 hours sleep to a 15% higher risk of coronary heart disease (HR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.08-1.23).
  • Short sleep (<7 hours) is associated with a 33% increased obesity risk (OR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.20-1.48) in a meta-analysis of 28 studies.
  • The National Sleep Foundation's 2023 poll revealed that 41% of Americans aged 25-34 report poor sleep quality at least three nights per week.
  • Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores above 5 indicating poor sleep were found in 38% of college students in a survey of 2,500 participants.
  • Actigraphy monitoring in 500 elderly showed sleep efficiency below 80% in 42% of participants aged 75+.
  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy reduced daytime sleepiness scores by 45% (ESS from 14.2 to 7.8) in a randomized trial of 150 OSA patients over 6 months.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) achieved 70% remission rates in a meta-analysis of 20 RCTs involving 1,228 patients.
  • Mandibular advancement devices improved AHI by 52% (from 28.4 to 13.6) in 300 moderate OSA patients over 12 months.
  • CDC data from 2020 BRFSS shows 34.3% of US adults aged 45-64 sleep less than 7 hours per night on workdays.
  • Among 10,000 UK Biobank participants, average sleep duration was 7.1 hours, with 29% sleeping 6-7 hours nightly.
  • NHANES 2017-2020 data indicates 37.1% of Hispanic adults sleep <7 hours compared to 32.4% of non-Hispanic whites.

Poor sleep is extremely common and significantly harms both physical and mental health.

Health Consequences

  • A meta-analysis of 45 sleep studies found that chronic short sleep duration (<6 hours) increases hypertension risk by 22% (RR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.15-1.30).
  • Longitudinal data from the Nurses' Health Study (n=72,000) linked <5 hours sleep to a 15% higher risk of coronary heart disease (HR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.08-1.23).
  • Short sleep (<7 hours) is associated with a 33% increased obesity risk (OR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.20-1.48) in a meta-analysis of 28 studies.
  • Insufficient sleep (<7 hours) raises diabetes risk by 9% per hour less slept (meta-analysis of 35 studies, n=750,000).
  • Sleep restriction to <6 hours/night increases all-cause mortality by 12% (HR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.06-1.18) in a 10-year follow-up of 21,000 adults.
  • Long sleep (>9 hours) correlates with 30% higher stroke risk (RR=1.30, 95% CI: 1.15-1.47) in meta-analysis of 17 studies.
  • Biphasic sleep patterns increase depression risk by 25% (OR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.10-1.42) in UK Biobank analysis.
  • Poor sleep quality triples dementia risk (HR=3.0, 95% CI: 1.5-6.0) in 8-year Whitehall II cohort (n=5,000).
  • Sleep-disordered breathing increases motor vehicle crash risk by 2.4-fold (OR=2.4, 95% CI: 1.8-3.2).
  • Chronic insomnia doubles healthcare costs ($2,500 vs $1,200 annually per patient).
  • OSA untreated raises atrial fibrillation risk by 4-fold in meta-analysis of 14 studies.
  • Poor sleep linked to 20% higher breast cancer recurrence (HR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.05-1.38).
  • Sleep curtailment impairs immune function, reducing vaccine antibody response by 50%.
  • Insomnia symptoms predict 1.8-fold higher anxiety disorder incidence over 10 years.
  • Long sleep duration (>8h) associated with 21% higher all-cause mortality.
  • OSA increases healthcare utilization by 25% ($1,200 extra/year).
  • Poor sleep hygiene scores correlate with 45% higher depression odds.
  • Sleep fragmentation raises Alzheimer's beta-amyloid by 10% per year.
  • Untreated OSA shortens life expectancy by 8 years in severe cases.
  • Insomnia comorbid with pain increases opioid use 2-fold.
  • Short sleep impairs next-day cognition by 0.2 SD units.
  • Poor sleep raises COVID-19 hospitalization risk 1.6-fold.
  • Sleep debt >2 weeks increases injury risk 30%.
  • OSA in pregnancy increases preeclampsia odds 1.5-fold.

Health Consequences Interpretation

Staying up late for extra hours is like taking out a high-interest loan from your body, and this damning collection of evidence is the bill—collecting with interest in the form of everything from hypertension and dementia to higher healthcare costs and a shorter life.

Sleep Disorder Prevalence

  • In a 2022 polysomnography study of 1,200 adults, the average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 15.3 events per hour among those with mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
  • In the Sleep Heart Health Study cohort of 6,440 participants, severe OSA (AHI ≥30) was present in 6.2% of men and 2.9% of women.
  • A 2021 study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine reported that insomnia prevalence is 23.7% among shift workers compared to 10.2% in day workers.
  • Restless legs syndrome (RLS) affects 10-15% of the general population, rising to 20-30% in those over 65 per European RLS Study Group data.
  • Narcolepsy type 1 prevalence is 25-50 per 100,000, with cataplexy reported in 70% of cases per International Classification of Sleep Disorders.
  • Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) index >15/hour occurs in 4.7% of adults per Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study.
  • REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) prevalence is 0.5-1% in general population, rising to 13% in PD patients per systematic review.
  • Central sleep apnea prevalence is 0.4% in general population, 15% in heart failure patients per AASM data.
  • Hypersomnia prevalence is 5-10% in primary care, with idiopathic hypersomnia at 0.014% per meta-analysis.
  • Kleine-Levin syndrome incidence is 1-2 per million per year, mostly adolescents per Orphanet data.
  • Shift work disorder affects 10-40% of night shift workers, per AASM consensus.
  • Exploding head syndrome reported by 14% lifetime prevalence in community surveys (n=2,000).
  • Fatal familial insomnia prevalence <1 per million, with 40 families worldwide reported.
  • Parasomnia prevalence 4% in children, 2% adults per ICSD-3 data.
  • Idiopathic hypersomnia mean sleep latency <8 minutes on MSLT in 90% cases.
  • Sleep-related eating disorder prevalence 4.5% in binge eating disorder patients.
  • Non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder affects 70% of totally blind individuals.
  • Confusional arousals weekly in 17.4% of children aged 3-6 years.
  • Sexsomnia prevalence 7.1% males, 2.5% females in community sample.
  • Night terrors lifetime prevalence 30-40% in children.
  • Sleep enuresis 15% prevalence in 5-year-olds, 1.5% adults.
  • Bruxism prevalence 8-10% awake, 31% sleep per AASM.
  • Delayed sleep phase syndrome 7-16% in adolescents.
  • Sleep talking prevalence 66.9% lifetime, 17.6% monthly.
  • Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders 3% in psychiatric inpatients.
  • Isolated sleep paralysis 40% lifetime prevalence.

Sleep Disorder Prevalence Interpretation

The unsettling symphony of sleep disorders reveals a startling truth: our beds can be battlefields where common conditions like apnea and insomnia wage a quiet war on health, while rare disorders act as strange, haunting echoes of our brain's complexity, all underscored by the sobering statistic that simply closing your eyes each night is a surprisingly perilous journey for millions.

Sleep Duration Statistics

  • CDC data from 2020 BRFSS shows 34.3% of US adults aged 45-64 sleep less than 7 hours per night on workdays.
  • Among 10,000 UK Biobank participants, average sleep duration was 7.1 hours, with 29% sleeping 6-7 hours nightly.
  • NHANES 2017-2020 data indicates 37.1% of Hispanic adults sleep <7 hours compared to 32.4% of non-Hispanic whites.
  • In a Japanese cohort of 3,000 adults, average sleep duration declined from 7.7 hours in 1988 to 6.9 hours in 2018.
  • Australian adults average 7.0 hours sleep per night, with 45% of 18-24 year olds sleeping <7 hours per 2022 Sleep Health Foundation survey.
  • In Canadian adults, 31% sleep 6-7 hours, per 2021 Statistics Canada survey of 10,000 respondents.
  • European adults average 6.9 hours sleep on weekdays, per 2023 EU Sleep Survey of 12,000.
  • US high school students average 6.8 hours sleep on school nights per 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n=17,000).
  • Global average sleep duration is 6.8 hours per night per 2022 WHO sleep report.
  • Brazilian adults: 26% sleep <6 hours per Vigitel 2022 survey (n=50,000).
  • Finnish working population: average 7.2 hours sleep, 22% short sleepers per 2021 FINRISK.
  • Singapore adults average 6.5 hours sleep weekdays per 2023 National Sleep Survey.
  • South Korean adults: 33% sleep <7 hours per 2022 KNHANES (n=10,000).
  • New Zealand Maori adults 42% short sleepers (<7h) vs 30% Europeans per 2021 survey.
  • Chinese urban adults average 6.6 hours sleep per 2022 CHARLS follow-up.
  • Indian adults 35% sleep <7 hours per 2023 NFHS-5 sleep module.
  • Swedish adults average 7.1 hours, 28% insufficient per 2022 Public Health Agency.
  • Mexican adults 38% <7 hours sleep per ENSANUT 2022.
  • Turkish adults 29% short sleep per 2021 TEMAS survey.
  • Russian adults average 6.9 hours per 2022 RLMS-HSE.
  • Dutch adults 26% <7 hours per 2023 CBS Health Survey.
  • Spanish adults average 6.8 hours weekdays per 2022 ENS.
  • Italian adults 32% insufficient sleep per 2023 PASSI.

Sleep Duration Statistics Interpretation

If you’re wondering whether modern life is slowly murdering sleep worldwide, the data from over twenty countries confirms that, yes, we are collectively burning the candle at both ends and now officially running on fumes.

Sleep Quality Metrics

  • The National Sleep Foundation's 2023 poll revealed that 41% of Americans aged 25-34 report poor sleep quality at least three nights per week.
  • Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores above 5 indicating poor sleep were found in 38% of college students in a survey of 2,500 participants.
  • Actigraphy monitoring in 500 elderly showed sleep efficiency below 80% in 42% of participants aged 75+.
  • Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) mean score was 9.2 in a community sample of 1,000, with 18% scoring >10 indicating excessive daytime sleepiness.
  • Sleep onset latency >30 minutes was reported by 28% of participants in the American Time Use Survey sleep module (n=15,000).
  • Wake after sleep onset (WASO) averaged 48 minutes in midlife women per SWAN study (n=3,200).
  • Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores ≥15 affected 15% of healthcare workers during COVID-19 per global survey (n=20,000).
  • Total sleep time fragmentation index >20% in 35% of older adults per actigraphy in MrOS study (n=3,000).
  • Sleep diary reports show average nocturnal awakenings of 2.1 per night in perimenopausal women (n=1,100).
  • Polysomnographic slow-wave sleep percentage is 18.5% in healthy young adults (age 20-30).
  • Mean sleep efficiency 85.2% in infants 6-12 months per polysomnography norms.
  • Stage N1 light sleep occupies 5% of total sleep time in adults per AASM scoring manual.
  • REM sleep percentage 22.1% ± 3.2% in healthy adults 18-25 years.
  • Arousal index 21.5/hour in untreated mild OSA per Sleep Heart Health Study.
  • Sleep continuity measured by KRA index <85 in 25% of depressed patients.
  • Delta power density peaks at 19.5 μV²/Hz in first NREM cycle young adults.
  • Spindle density 147/hour in N2 sleep for ages 20-29 per normative data.
  • Cyclic alternating pattern rate 28.5% in good sleepers per PSG norms.
  • N3 sleep duration 60-120 minutes optimal in adults 18-60.
  • Leg movement index 7.3/hour normative in adults >65.
  • Sleep stage transitions average 120/night in healthy adults.
  • Microarousal index 12.5/hour in young healthy controls.
  • REM density 2.5/min in phasic REM periods.
  • Sleep efficiency 92% normative for ages 10-18 years.

Sleep Quality Metrics Interpretation

Despite the science of sleep being mapped with impressive precision, the lived reality for a significant portion of the population, from college students to healthcare workers, appears to be a frustrating nightly experiment in poor efficiency, excessive awakenings, and daytime sleepiness.

Treatment Efficacy

  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy reduced daytime sleepiness scores by 45% (ESS from 14.2 to 7.8) in a randomized trial of 150 OSA patients over 6 months.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) achieved 70% remission rates in a meta-analysis of 20 RCTs involving 1,228 patients.
  • Mandibular advancement devices improved AHI by 52% (from 28.4 to 13.6) in 300 moderate OSA patients over 12 months.
  • Hypoglossal nerve stimulation reduced AHI from 29.3 to 9.7 in 126 patients with CPAP-intolerant OSA over 12 months.
  • Positional therapy reduced supine AHI by 65% in 100 positional OSA patients using a positional pillow device.
  • Oral appliance therapy improved sleep efficiency from 82% to 88% in a crossover trial of 60 OSA patients.
  • Weight loss of 10% body weight reduced AHI by 26% in 72 obese OSA patients over 1 year.
  • Expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) devices lowered AHI from 19.5 to 7.9 in 145 patients.
  • Bright light therapy improved sleep phase delay by 1.2 hours in 50 delayed sleep phase disorder patients.
  • Melatonin supplementation advanced sleep onset by 34 minutes in 1,683 meta-analyzed trials.
  • Surgical uvulopalatopharyngoplasty success rate 40-60% for AHI reduction >50%.
  • Auto-CPAP titration achieved therapeutic pressure in 89% of 200 home sleep study patients.
  • Temazepam reduced sleep latency by 19 minutes vs placebo in 120 insomnia patients.
  • Bilevel PAP improved adherence to 70% vs 50% for CPAP in 300 complex apnea cases.
  • Inspire therapy AHI reduction 68% at 12 months (n=191).
  • Zolpidem sustained-release improved sleep maintenance by 25 minutes (n=1,016).
  • Adenotonsillectomy cured OSA in 79% of children (AHI<1 post-op).
  • Ramelteon reduced sleep latency by 16.5 minutes vs 8.9 placebo (n=405).
  • Digital CBT-I apps remission rate 62% at 6 weeks (n=1,711).
  • Maxillomandibular advancement surgery AHI success 85% (>50% reduction).
  • ASV therapy normalized AHI <10 in 90% CSA heart failure patients.
  • Doxepin 6mg improved WASO by 27 minutes (n=784).
  • Tracheostomy resolves OSA AHI to <5 in 95% severe cases.
  • Weighted blankets reduced ISI by 2.3 points (n=120).

Treatment Efficacy Interpretation

The data shows we can now match the precise weapon to the sleep disorder's villain, from a CPAP cannon for OSA to a CBT-I scalpel for insomnia, though the ancient cures of weight loss and surgery still pack a powerful, if less glamorous, punch.

Sources & References