The Association Between Short Sleep Duration and Metabolic Syndrome: A Case-Control Study

Short sleep duration and quality are increasingly common in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and has been linked to metabolic syndrome, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This study aimed to examine the link between short sleep duration and metabolic syndrome.

We conducted a case-control study using data from Qatar Biobank, with 1000 participants categorized into two groups: less than 7 hours of sleep (n=500) and 7 or more hours of sleep (n=500). Metabolic syndrome was defined using WHO criteria, and logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and gender.

There was a higher proportion of individuals with MetS in the short sleep duration group compared to the normal sleep duration group (22.8% vs 15.8%, respectively). The multivariable regression showed that short sleep duration was associated with metabolic syndrome (OR 1.91, 95% CI: 1.14-3.20, P=0.014) and having 1-2 components of metabolic syndrome (OR 1.91, 95% CI: 1.14-3.20, P=0.014), particularly in males (OR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.07-4.94, P=0.032). Being overweight (OR 2.17, 95% CI: 1.30-3.63, P=0.003) was also associated with a shorter sleep duration. BMI was identified as the main contributor to the association between short sleep duration and metabolic syndrome, while diabetes played a minor role.

Short sleep duration was associated with metabolic syndrome in Qatar, particularly in males.