Written By Dr. Jyotsana Shree and Reviewed by Dr.Manvir Bhatia-05/02/2025.
Sleep is vital for human survival, yet modern societal pressures frequently lead to chronic sleep deprivation. Over the decades, sleep duration has declined in many countries due to various societal and cultural influences. A Samsung analysis of 716 million nights of sleep revealed a global drop in sleep quality. The average sleep duration fell from 7 hours and 3 minutes to 6 hours and 59 minutes, dipping below the recommended 7-hour threshold. Additionally, sleep efficiency—the proportion of time spent asleep versus time in bed—declined across all demographics and regions.
Key findings include:
- Females and older adults (70+) showed the most significant declines in sleep efficiency.
- Asia reported the lowest sleep efficiency among all regions.
- The region’s average sleep duration fell below the recommended 7 hours, consistent with trends in most areas outside Europe and North America.
- Sleep debt, the inconsistency between weekday and weekend sleep, is highest among young adults (20s) at 49 minutes, nearly double that of those in their 70s.

Both sleep quality and quantity are essential in maintaining physical and mental health. While sufficient sleep duration is vital, research highlights that sleep quality often significantly impacts overall well-being. Here’s an overview of the key findings:
Mental Health and Sleep Quality
- Poor sleep quality has been strongly associated with mental health disorders among 20% of patients. The possible consequences include depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder.
- Studies suggest that poor-quality sleep is a relevant predictor of mental health conditions than sleep duration. Restful, uninterrupted sleep significantly reduces the risk of emotional and psychological distress.
Cardiovascular Health
- Those who sleep less than 6 hours face a nearly 30% higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Research revealed that both short sleep duration and poor sleep quality contribute to an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
- Sleep assessments combining duration and quality showed that individuals with low overall sleep scores were at a higher risk of developing heart-related complications.
Impact on BMI and Obesity
- Sleeping for less than 6 hours a day is linked to a 38% increase in the risk of obesity.
- Improving sleep quality in women and extending sleep duration in men may help mitigate obesity risks.
Diabetes and Sleep Patterns
- A meta-analysis showed that both short (5–6 hours) and long sleep durations, along with difficulties maintaining sleep, increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
- The risk of diabetes varied, with those reporting short or disrupted sleep experiencing up to an 84% higher risk.
- This underscores the importance of both sufficient and restful sleep for metabolic health.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
- Sleep disorders are reported in 50% to 75% of patients with CK).
- In patients with CKD, greater sleep fragmentation and shorter sleep duration were linked to faster disease progression, including reduced kidney function and increased protein excretion.
- Sleep disturbances also elevated the risk of end-stage renal disease and mortality.
BENEFITS OF GOOD SLEEP:

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Sleep is crucial for maintaining both physical and mental health. The global decline in sleep quality and duration, particularly in Asia, highlights the urgent need to address sleep-related issues. Poor sleep quality has significant implications for mental health, cardiovascular health, obesity, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Improving sleep duration and quality are essential to mitigate these risks and enhance overall well-being. Modern tools to monitor and improve sleep can play a key role in tackling the global sleep crisis.
References:
- https://www.heart.org/-/media/Healthy-Living-Files/Infographics/How-Sleep-Affects-Your-Health-Infographic.pdf?sc_lang=en
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation/health-effects#:~:text=Sleep%20deficiency%20can%20cause%20problems,time%2C%20and%20make%20more%20mistakes.
- https://news.samsung.com/in/have-we-been-sleeping-well-samsung-answers-the-age-old-question-with-the-global-sleep-health-study
- Blackwelder A, et al. Peer reviewed: effect of inadequate sleep on frequent mental distress. Preventing chronic disease. 2021;18.
- Kohyama J. Which is more important for health: sleep quantity or sleep quality?. Children. 2021 Jun 24;8(7):542.
- Yazdanpanah MH, et al. Short sleep is associated with higher prevalence and increased predicted risk of cardiovascular diseases in an Iranian population: Fasa PERSIAN Cohort Study. Scientific reports. 2020 Mar 12;10(1):4608.
- Koh JH, et al. Bidirectional association of sleep disorders with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Kidney Journal. 2024 Nov;17(11):sfae279.
- Huang H, et al. Poor sleep quality and overweight/obesity in healthcare professionals: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Public Health. 2024 May 30;12:1390643.