Impact of Sleep Duration on Asthma Exacerbations in US Adults

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

5-2026

Publication Title

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep disturbances are common in individuals with asthma, but the relationship between sleep duration and asthma exacerbation remains unclear. This study examined the association between short and nonshort sleep duration and the risk of asthma exacerbation among US adults using data from NHANES 2021-2023.

Methods: Adults ages >18 years with self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma were included. Sleep duration was categorized as short (< 6 hours) or nonshort (>6 hours) sleep based on self-reported average nightly sleep. Asthma exacerbation was defined by self-reported asthma attack or emergency visit for asthma in the past year. Chi-square was used to determine differences, and logistic regression was used to estimate odd ratio and 95% confidence intervals for asthma exacerbation by sleep duration, gender, age, BMI and comorbidities.

Results: Among 938 adults with self-reported ever had asthma, 91 reported sleeping < 6 hours and 847 reported sleeping > 6 hours. Asthma attack in past year was 56% in short sleepers and 45% in nonshort sleepers. Emergency visits for asthma were 12% in short sleepers and 10.9% in nonshort sleepers. When combined asthma attack or emergency visit for asthma last year it was 56% in short sleepers and 46% in nonshort sleeper (Chi square p-value =0.096). Univariate logistic regression showed a non-significant trend toward increased odds of exacerbation among short sleepers OR (95% CI) 1.45 (0.935-2.2) with p-value=0.097, which remained nonsignificant after multivariable adjustment (adjusted OR = 1.5 (0.96-2.34) with p-value=0.076).

Conclusion: Short sleep duration showed a trend toward higher asthma exacerbation risk, although this association did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest a possible relationship between sleep deprivation and asthma exacerbation that warrant further investigation in a larger study.

Volume

212

Issue

Suppl 1

First Page

S362

Last Page

S362

Comments

American Thoracic Society International Conference, May 15-20, 2026, Orlando, FL

DOI

10.1093/ajrccm/aamag162.496

ISSN

1073-449X

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