Recent sleep disorder research has uncovered the emergence of “social apnoea”, where weekend lifestyle habits like alcohol and late nights increase obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) severity by up to 20%.
This recent phenomenon was identified by researchers from the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute and published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
By using under-mattress sensors, researchers have found that sleep apnoea worsens by approximately 20% on weekends due to late nights, alcohol, smoking, disrupted sleep schedules, and lifestyle changes, particularly affecting those who sleep in late.
Participants in studies had a 47% higher risk of worsening symptoms if sleeping in by more than 45 minutes. When insomnia is combined with sleep apnoea, it also has ability to drastically heighten heart disease risk.
The effect was found to be more pronounced in men and younger individuals. If left untreated or worsened, this can increase risks for heart disease and depression.
These studies, often supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), underscore that managing sleep disorders is critical for preventing long-term cardiovascular, cognitive, and metabolic diseases.
With World Sleep Day on 13 March highlighting the importance of maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, these recent finding also highlight how limiting alcohol/smoking on weekends can help mitigate sleeping problems.
For a Good Night’s Sleep
Whether people are struggle with “social apnoea” or regular OSA, sleep services are there to provide guidance on finding a regular and healthy sleep pattern.
Accreditation for these sleep services helps to guarantee high-quality patient care, validate technical competence in diagnostics, and ensure safety standards are met. It also builds confidence among patients and referrers, confirms compliance with rigorous, independent standards, and promotes continuous improvement.
Accreditation often follows standards, such as ISO 15189, or specific industry standards, from organisations such as Australasian Sleep Association (ASA), covering everything from sleep lab facilities to staff qualifications.
This ensures that sleep studies and treatments are conducted accurately and provides independent verification that the service adheres to best practices, boosting confidence for patients, insurers, and referring physicians.