Poor Sleep Linked to Kidney Disease

An estimated 31 million men and women in the United States suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to the American Kidney Fund. While that number fall short of heart disease, it remains the ninth leading cause of death, affecting roughly 1 in 10 adults. While  poor dieting and lack of exercise has been linked to KCD, there's new evidence suggesting that people who don't sleep enough have a greater risk of developing CKD as well.

For the study, researchers analyzed the sleep habits of 432 men and women with CKD, paying close attention to both the quantity and quality of their sleep over the course of five years. Participants were required to wear a wrist monitor for five to seven days per week throughout the study's period, allowing researchers to track their sleeping habits. So, what did they discover?

Researchers found that participants slept an average of 6.5 hours per night. During the follow-up study, 70 participants had experienced kidney failure, 48 of whom died. Researchers then calculated each additional hour of sleep, linking it to a 19% lower risk of CKD. In other words, for every additional hour of sleep past the standard 6.5 hours, participants lowered their risk of developing kidney disease by a whopping 19%, which is pretty impressive to say the least.

Researchers also found a link between sleep quality and kidney disease. For every 1% increase in "sleep fragmentation," for instance, there was a 4% greater risk of developing kidney disease. Furthermore, researchers say that participants who experienced daytime fatigue and sleepiness were 10% more likely to die from kidney disease than participants who were not sleepy throughout the day.

"Short sleep and fragmented sleep are significant yet unappreciated risk factors for CKD progression,” said one of the study's lead researchers. “Our research adds to the accumulating knowledge regarding the importance of sleep on kidney function, and underscores the need to design and test clinical interventions to improve sleep habits in individuals with CKD,” she added.

Getting a good night's rest isn't always easy, but there are some steps you can take to improve the quality of your sleep. For starters, eliminate all distractions from your bedroom. This includes the TV, smartphone, light shining through the windows, etc. Also, refrain from consuming ANY caffeine for at least four hours before bedtime.

This study was presented at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2016.