New Delhi: A recent study has found that sleep debt and irregular night shifts heighten the risk of several infections, including the common cold, pneumonia, and gastrointestinal infections. Conducted by researchers in Norway, the study highlights the impact of sleep patterns on immune health, particularly among healthcare workers.
Published in Chronobiology International, the study analyzed data from 1,335 Norwegian nurses to assess how sleep deprivation and shift work influence infection susceptibility. Sleep debt—defined as the difference between an individual’s sleep needs and actual sleep duration—was found to increase infection risk in a dose-dependent manner.
The findings revealed that shift work, especially night shifts, was linked to a higher likelihood of infections. Nurses with moderate sleep debt (sleeping one to 120 minutes less than needed) had a 33% higher risk of developing the common cold. Those with severe sleep debt (more than two hours less sleep) had more than double the risk compared to those without sleep deprivation.
The study also reported that the risk of pneumonia or bronchitis was 129% higher among nurses with moderate sleep debt and soared to 288% in those experiencing severe sleep deprivation. Similarly, the likelihood of sinusitis and gastrointestinal infections rose with increasing levels of sleep debt.
“These findings underscore the need for tailored interventions to mitigate infection risks among healthcare workers,” said lead researcher Siri Waage from the Norwegian Competence Center for Sleep Disorders at Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen. “Chronic sleep deprivation and irregular shift patterns not only weaken immune defenses but may also affect nurses’ ability to deliver high-quality patient care.”
Most participants in the study were female (90.4%) with an average age of 41.9 years. They reported their sleep duration, sleep needs, shift schedules, and infection history over the past three months. The analysis confirmed that night shifts were associated with a higher risk of the common cold, though they did not show a significant link with other infections.
The study highlights the importance of ensuring adequate sleep and managing shift schedules to protect healthcare workers’ health and prevent increased infection risks due to sleep deprivation.