Prediabetes and sleep patterns: Linking poor sleep to adverse outcomes through metabolic syndrome

Evaluate how sleep patterns are associated with the risk of adverse health outcomes in individuals with prediabetes, and explore the potential mediating role of metabolic syndrome in these associations.

We assessed 44,938 adults with prediabetes from the UK Biobank. Sleep health was evaluated using sleep pattern, comprised of five sleep factors. Mediation analysis was performed to explore the potential mediating role of metabolic syndrome.

Unhealthy sleep patterns were linked to a higher risk of adverse outcomes. Compared to those with a healthy sleep pattern, individuals with an intermediate sleep pattern had a higher propensity to develop adverse outcomes (HRs ranging from 1.07 to 1.31). Respectively, those with a poor sleep pattern also had an increased risk for these outcomes (HRs ranging from 1.21 to 1.92). For each poor sleep factor increase, the risk of these adverse outcomes increased by 4% to 23%. Metabolic syndrome may partially mediate, with mediation proportions ranging from 0.94% to 9.61%.

In adults with prediabetes, both poor and intermediate sleep patterns are associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Metabolic syndrome partially mediates the relationship between sleep patterns and adverse outcomes.