Are Night Owls at Higher Risk for Heart Problems? New Study Suggests They Might Be! Middle-aged and older adults who are more active in the evenings may have poorer cardiovascular health than their daytime-active peers, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
The study analyzed health data from over 300,000 adults in the UK Biobank to explore how chronotype—whether someone is naturally a “morning person” or “evening person”—affects heart health.
Participants self-reported their chronotype: about 8% were “definitely evening people” (night owls), 24% were “definitely morning people” (early birds), and 67% were intermediate types. Cardiovascular health was assessed using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8™ metrics, which include diet, physical activity, sleep, smoking, and clinical measures like cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, and weight.
Key findings included:
- Night owls had a 79% higher prevalence of poor overall cardiovascular health compared to intermediate types.
- They faced a 16% higher risk of heart attack or stroke over a median 14-year follow-up.
- Women night owls were particularly affected, showing lower cardiovascular health scores than men with the same chronotype.
- Poor habits like smoking and inadequate sleep largely explained the increased risk.
- Morning people had slightly better outcomes, with a 5% lower prevalence of low cardiovascular health scores compared to intermediate types.
Evening chronotypes often experience circadian misalignment, meaning their internal body clocks don’t align with natural day-night cycles or typical daily schedules, which can influence behaviors affecting heart health.
Experts emphasize that night owls aren’t doomed—many risks are modifiable through lifestyle changes. Aligning medication timing, improving sleep habits, and reducing smoking can help evening types protect their cardiovascular health.
The study’s limitations include a mostly White, generally healthy cohort and reliance on self-reported chronotype at a single time point, which may limit generalizability.
REFERENCE: Kianersi, Sina, Potts, Kaitlin S., Wang, Heming, Sofer, Tamar, Noordam, Raymond; Chronotype, Life’s Essential 8, and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study in UK Biobank; Journal of the American Heart Association; doi: 10.1161/JAHA.125.044189; https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.125.044189
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.