Daytime sleep increases mortality risk
Substantial prospective cohort evidence and meta-analyses indicate that frequent or prolonged daytime napping (typically longer than one hour) is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, though shorter naps may not carry the same risk.
The overwhelming majority of high-quality prospective studies, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews indicate that extended daytime napping increases all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk. Only one study reported an inverse association specifically concerning cancer risk in a Chinese cohort. Therefore, the claim is well-supported by the preponderance of evidence.
Y. Leng, N. Wainwright, F. Cappuccio, P. Surtees, S. Hayat, R. Luben, C. Brayne, K. Khaw. Daytime Napping and the Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A 13-Year Follow-up of a British Population. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwu036
This British cohort study found that daytime napping was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, especially for naps lasting 1 hour or longer.
Li G, Gan T, Qian Z, Zhou Y, Zhou H, Wu Y, Chen L. Relationship between daytime napping duration and pan-cancer risk: a prospective cohort study based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-01126-4
A prospective cohort study based on the CHARLS database found an inverse association, reporting that longer daytime napping duration was associated with a lower overall cancer risk.
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Xiaokun Liu, Qi Zhang, Xiao-ming Shang. Meta-Analysis of Self-Reported Daytime Napping and Risk of Cardiovascular or All-Cause Mortality. 2015. https://doi.org/10.12659/MSM.893186
A meta-analysis of prospective studies concluded that self-reported daytime napping is a mild but statistically significant predictor for all-cause mortality.
X. Yang, Yao Liu, X. Jiang, Zhen Xing Zhang, Y. Lu, Chen Sheng Fu, H. Jin, Z. Ye. Daytime napping and risk of incident main adverse cardiovascular events and mortality among adults with type 2 diabetes.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2025.112067
A study of adults with type 2 diabetes found frequent daytime napping to be significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events.
Yiting Zhang, Xuerui Li, Jun Zheng, Yuyang Miao, Jin Tan, Qiang Zhang. Association of daytime napping and nighttime sleep with all-cause mortality: A prospective cohort study of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2023.11.018
This cohort study demonstrated that prolonged napping of 90 minutes or more is linked to a higher risk of all-cause and premature mortality.
Meng Wang, Xin Xiang, Zhengyan Zhao, Yu Liu, Yang Cao, Weiwei Guo, Linlin Hou, Qiuhuan Jiang. Association between self-reported napping and risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: A meta-analysis of cohort studies. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311266
A large meta-analysis reported that individuals who indulge in daytime naps face a significantly higher mortality risk than non-nappers.
Z Pan, M Huang, J Huang, Z Yao. The association between napping and the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.2818
A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis confirmed that long napping over 60 minutes per day is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.
Gao C, Cai R, Zheng X, Gaba A, Yu L, Buchman AS, Bennett DA, Gao L, Hu K, Li P. Objectively Measured Daytime Napping Patterns and All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.7938
An actigraphy-measured study in older adults established that longer and more frequent daytime napping is associated with higher all-cause mortality.
Du P, Li J, Hua Z, Sun Y, Song S, Liao Y, Cheng S, Li X. Multiple Health Outcomes of Daytime Napping: A Comprehensive Umbrella Review.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3389/phrs.2026.1609013
An umbrella review of multiple meta-analyses indicated that napping for over 60 minutes correlates with increased chronic disease and mortality risks.
Leng Y, Milton S, Yaffe K, Cavailles C, Wallace M, Ancoli-Israel S, Ensrud K, Stone K. Multidimensional sleep-wake changes and risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in oldest-old women. 2025. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6779286/v1
Objective actigraphy tracking in older women showed that large increases in daytime napping duration more than doubled the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.
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