Sociodemographics, Poor Overall Health, Cardiovascular Disease, Depression, Fatigue, and Daytime Sleepiness Associated with Social Jetlag Independent of Sleep Duration and Insomnia

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Social jetlag has emerged as an important circadian marker for health outcomes. METHODS: Data from the Sleep and Healthy Activity, Diet, Environment, and Socialization (SHADES) Study was used. SHADES is a community-­based survey of N=1,007 adults age 22-­60. Social jetlag was assessed using the Sleep Timing Questionnaire and was calculated by subtracting weekday from weekend sleep midpoint. Sleep duration was assessed with NHANES, and insomnia was assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index[ISI]. Covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, employment, income, sleep duration [NHANES], and insomnia [ISI]. Overall health was self-­reported as "Excellent," "Good," or "Fair/Poor." Cardiovascular disease was assessed as history of any condition. Depression was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire[PHQ], fatigue with the Fatigue Severity Scale[FSS], and sleepiness with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale[ESS]. Regression models, adjusted for all covariates, examined whether social jetlag predicted any of these outcomes. RESULTS: Each hour of social jetlag was associated with a 22.1% and 28.3% increased likelihood of good and fair/poor health, versus excellent (p<0.01),11.1% increased likelihood of heart disease (p<0.05), 0.25 PHQ points, 0.19 ESS points, and 0.56 FSS points (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Social jetlag is associated with poorer health, heart disease, worse mood, and increased sleepiness and fatigue.