Morbidity and mortality associated with sleep length

Laboratory experiments and observation studies have demonstrated that sleep duration is important for numerous different health outcomes. In this article, we briefly review the association between sleep duration and several disorders, including diabetes, obesity, heart disease and depression. We also briefly discuss the relationship between sleep duration and mortality risk. Studies have observed an increased risk of morbidity and mortality associated with short sleep duration (typically ≤6 h per night) and long sleep duration (typically >8 h per night).