David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Poor quality, short sleep 'prevalent' among adults, StatsCan says
CBC News
September 20, 2017
More than half of adults in Canada say their shuteye is fitful at times, according to a Statistics Canada report released Wednesday.
The federal agency's Health Reports on duration and quality of sleep focuses on people 18 to 79 years old during a six-year period. It provides recent estimates of the duration and quality of sleep, and the percentage of Canadians surveyed who adhere to these sleep guidelines:
Between the 2007 to 2013 study period, Canadians 18 to 64 averaged 7.12 hours of sleep per night.
"Short sleep duration and poor sleep quality are prevalent among Canadian adults. About one-third sleep fewer hours per night than recommended for optimal physical and mental health.
"This group also experiences poor sleep quality more frequently than do those who sleep the recommended number of hours," the report's authors concluded.
The results suggested 43 per cent of men and 55 per cent of women in the 18 to 64 age group reported trouble going to sleep or staying asleep "sometimes/most of the time/all of the time."
Lack of sleep (both duration and quality) are associated with obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, injuries, death from all causes, depression, irritability and reduced well-being, the researchers said.
Prof. Colleen Carney is a professor at Ryerson University in Toronto, where she directs the sleep and depression laboratory. To Carney, the insomnia findings stand out, given its association with mental health conditions, damage to quality of life, lost productivity and cost.
The frontline treatment for insomnia is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a brief therapy that provides tailored advice for when and how long to be in bed, and challenges preoccupation and anxiety about sleep loss, she said.
CBT for insomnia is provided in person, through self-help books and on the internet.
"Our research suggests patients aren't getting access to this treatment and instead get poor advice such as sleep hygiene, a treatment that is not effective for chronic insomnia," said Carney, who was not involved in the Statistics Canada report.
In an email, Carney expressed concern about how 45 per cent of Canadians consider their sleep unrefreshing.
"The stat that one-third experience daytime sleepiness is a public health concern. Sleepiness can be associated with motor vehicle accidents and poor academic or work performance, and it is associated with negative health outcomes. Daytime sleepiness can relate to poor sleep habits but it can also relate to an untreated,or poorly treated sleep disorder."
Between the 2007 to 2013 study period, Canadians 18 to 64 averaged 7.12 hours of sleep per night.
About two-thirds reported the recommended seven to nine hours, and the other third reported less than 7 hours, with sleeping more than nine hours cited as being rare.
CBC News
September 20, 2017
More than half of adults in Canada say their shuteye is fitful at times, according to a Statistics Canada report released Wednesday.
The federal agency's Health Reports on duration and quality of sleep focuses on people 18 to 79 years old during a six-year period. It provides recent estimates of the duration and quality of sleep, and the percentage of Canadians surveyed who adhere to these sleep guidelines:
- 7 to 9 hours per night at 18 to 64.
- 7 to 8 hours per night at 65 or older.
Between the 2007 to 2013 study period, Canadians 18 to 64 averaged 7.12 hours of sleep per night.
"Short sleep duration and poor sleep quality are prevalent among Canadian adults. About one-third sleep fewer hours per night than recommended for optimal physical and mental health.
"This group also experiences poor sleep quality more frequently than do those who sleep the recommended number of hours," the report's authors concluded.
The results suggested 43 per cent of men and 55 per cent of women in the 18 to 64 age group reported trouble going to sleep or staying asleep "sometimes/most of the time/all of the time."
Lack of sleep (both duration and quality) are associated with obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, injuries, death from all causes, depression, irritability and reduced well-being, the researchers said.
Prof. Colleen Carney is a professor at Ryerson University in Toronto, where she directs the sleep and depression laboratory. To Carney, the insomnia findings stand out, given its association with mental health conditions, damage to quality of life, lost productivity and cost.
The frontline treatment for insomnia is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a brief therapy that provides tailored advice for when and how long to be in bed, and challenges preoccupation and anxiety about sleep loss, she said.
CBT for insomnia is provided in person, through self-help books and on the internet.
"Our research suggests patients aren't getting access to this treatment and instead get poor advice such as sleep hygiene, a treatment that is not effective for chronic insomnia," said Carney, who was not involved in the Statistics Canada report.
In an email, Carney expressed concern about how 45 per cent of Canadians consider their sleep unrefreshing.
"The stat that one-third experience daytime sleepiness is a public health concern. Sleepiness can be associated with motor vehicle accidents and poor academic or work performance, and it is associated with negative health outcomes. Daytime sleepiness can relate to poor sleep habits but it can also relate to an untreated,or poorly treated sleep disorder."
Between the 2007 to 2013 study period, Canadians 18 to 64 averaged 7.12 hours of sleep per night.
About two-thirds reported the recommended seven to nine hours, and the other third reported less than 7 hours, with sleeping more than nine hours cited as being rare.
