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Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
Published on: October 2, 2019
Associations Between Daytime Napping, Sleep Duration and Postoperative Delirium
Kyle Nameth1,2, Arlen Gaba2,3, Anaëlle Charles2
1SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
Journal of Sleep Research
|July 10, 2026
Summary
Postoperative delirium (POD) risk increases with more frequent and longer daytime napping. Overnight sleep duration and wake after sleep onset did not significantly impact POD risk in this study.
Area of Science:
- Sleep science
- Gerontology
- Critical care medicine
Background:
- Postoperative delirium (POD) is a frequent complication in post-anesthesia care units and intensive care units.
- Emerging evidence links sleep disturbances to delirium risk, but objective, long-term sleep habit data is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively measure sleep habits using actigraphy in a large cohort.
- To investigate the association between objective sleep parameters and the risk of developing postoperative delirium.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 6-day actigraphy data from 54,845 UK Biobank participants over 8 years.
- Examined nap duration, nap frequency, overnight sleep duration, and wake after sleep onset (WASO).
- Utilized Cox proportional hazards models to assess POD risk prediction.
Main Results:
- Increased nap duration and frequency were significantly associated with a higher risk of POD.
- No significant association was found between overnight sleep duration (≥9h or <6h) and POD risk.
- Wake after sleep onset (WASO) did not show a significant increased risk for POD.
Conclusions:
- Daytime napping, objectively measured, is linked to an elevated risk of postoperative delirium.
- Further research is needed to determine if napping is a modifiable factor or a marker of underlying cognitive issues.
- Understanding the napping-delirium relationship is crucial for potential interventions.
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