Overview
- Vitality and LSE report that about seven hours of nightly sleep with a bedtime kept within an hour is associated with a 24% lower risk of premature death and up to a 7% drop in hospital admissions.
- Bedtime regularity stands out: falling asleep within an hour of the same time each night is linked to a 31% lower likelihood of premature death and a 9% lower likelihood of hospitalization.
- People consistently sleeping under six hours face roughly a 20% higher premature-death risk, with one in three adults getting fewer than seven hours a night.
- Researchers model sizable economic gains if sleep improves, including potential NHS savings of £1.35 billion annually if a quarter of people change habits, plus up to $287 saved per person and as many as six fewer sick days a year.
- A separate OHSU analysis finds sleep sufficiency correlates with life expectancy across U.S. states more strongly than diet or exercise, reinforcing guidance to aim for seven to nine hours.