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In a study of more than 30,000 men, American researchers found that poor sleep quality was associated with a 15 to 20 percent higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
Sleep quality assessed using actigraphy
To date, evidence on the role of sleep duration, timing, and quality on prostate cancer risk is mixed. This could be caused by the limitations of these studies which rely on participants’ assessment of sleep, without resorting to a method less open to interpretation.
To avoid this pitfall, American researchers used actigraphy, which makes it possible to evaluate periods of wakefulness and sleep over several days or even weeks. This technique is based on the use of a small sensor placed on the wrist (accelerometers like a watch) which permanently records the movements of the arm (when you are asleep, the movements decrease).
Frequent waking up linked to risk of prostate cancer
The researchers relied on a large epidemiological study by the UK Biobank, following 34,260 healthy men, whose sleep quality was assessed over 7 days. After a follow-up of more than 7 years, 1152 men developed prostate cancer.
Analyzing this data, scientists found that the total number of hours spent sleeping each night and the timing of sleep were not associated with prostate cancer risk. In contrast, men who logged 30 minutes or more of wakefulness after sleep onset had a 15 to 20 percent higher risk of prostate cancer during the study’s follow-up period, compared to men who were awake for less than 30 minutes after falling asleep.
These results need to be replicated in other studies and in more diverse populations. While waiting for this confirmation, it is now important to remember all the benefits of quality sleep on your health and general well-being.
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