Study Reveals-Weekend Habits Linked to Spike in Sleep Apnoea Severity - Video
Overview
Late nights, weekend alcohol, and smoking could be doing more than just disrupting sleep-they may be triggering a newly identified sleep health issue called "social apnea", according to a global study led by Flinders University researchers. The findings, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, shed light on a significant weekend spike in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) severity, driven by lifestyle choices and irregular sleep routines. The study analysed sleep data from over 70,000 people across the world and found a consistent, measurable rise in OSA severity on weekends. Researchers from FHMRI Sleep Health coined the term "social apnea" to describe this weekend-specific deterioration in sleep quality.
The analysis revealed that participants were 18% more likely to experience moderate to severe OSA on Saturdays compared to mid-week. Men were more affected than women, with a 21% increased risk versus 9%. Younger adults under 60 were particularly vulnerable, with a 24% rise in weekend OSA risk, while those over 60 saw a 7% increase. Changes like sleeping in for over 45 minutes worsened apnea severity by 47%.
Professor Danny Eckert, Director of FHMRI Sleep Health and senior author of the study, noted, “We don’t yet know exactly why, but alcohol use, lighter sleep, and less consistent use of OSA therapies likely play a role.”
A companion study published in Nature’s Communications Medicine found similar patterns with seasonal variability in OSA severity, with summer and winter increasing risks by up to 19%.
Professor Eckert emphasized the need for multi-night sleep assessments: “Relying on a single-night sleep study may miss important variations, leading to under diagnosis or misclassification of OSA severity.” “Try to keep the same sleep schedule throughout the week and weekend, ensuring that you get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep a night,” he says.
Reference: “Social Apnea”: Obstructive Sleep Apnea is Exacerbated on Weekends, Pinilla, Lucía et al., 2025, doi: 10.1164/rccm.202505-1184RL, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Am J Respir Crit Care Med, American Thoracic Society - AJRCCM
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