“Social apnea”: When weekend parties disrupt sleep

Staying up later, maybe having an extra glass of wine or beer, and sleeping in on Saturdays or Sundays: For many, this is simply part of the weekend. But this very rhythm of life could pose a previously underestimated health risk. An international research team at Flinders University in Australia is warning of a newly identified form of sleep disorder – "social sleep apnea."

A study with data from more than 70,000 people worldwide shows that the breathing pauses typical of obstructive sleep apnea occur significantly more frequently on weekends than during the week. Late bedtimes, alcohol consumption, and irregular sleep patterns in particular increase the risk. The results have now been published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the airways repeatedly narrow or close during sleep, disrupting sleep. This can lead to daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and even serious health consequences.

The disorder increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, depression, dementia, and traffic accidents. In the worst case, it can lead to sudden cardiac death. Sleep apnea is considered a widespread but often unrecognized disease. An estimated one billion people worldwide are affected.

"Sleep apnea is already a major public health problem, but our findings suggest that its true magnitude has been underestimated," said lead author Dr. Lucia Pinilla of the FHMRI Sleep Health Research Center. "Most clinical diagnostic tests are performed on a single evening, usually on a weekday, thus failing to account for the weekend effect, which we now call 'social apnea.'"