The power of movement: how physical activity can mitigate the risks of inadequate sleep

Abstract

This editorial refers to 'Joint association of physical activity and sleep duration with risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a population-based cohort study using accelerometry', by Y.Y. Liang et al., https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwad060. The cardiovascular health benefits of physical activity (PA) and healthy sleep duration are well established. 1,2 In the literature, however, findings on the interaction of objectively measured PA and sleep duration have been scarce and often contradictory. 3-5 In this issue, Liang et al. provide important information about this topic through a population-based cohort study to investigate the association of accelerometer-measured PA and sleep duration with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality. Using the UK Biobank data, they identified 92 221 participants in whom PA and sleep duration were measured by a 7-day accelerometer recording. The results demonstrate an independent association between PA and sleep duration with mortality risk. Sleep duration (both short and long sleep duration) was associated with higher all-cause and CVD mortality. Higher moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was associated with a reduction of all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality. Interestingly, the study reveals an additive and multiplicative interaction between PA and sleep duration on mortality risk. The lowest volume of PA combined with short or long sleep duration is associated with the highest risk of all-cause mortality. In contrast, a higher volume of PA seems to eliminate the risk associated with short or long sleep duration, as similar mortality risks were found in the short, normal, and long sleep duration groups.