Summary: Excessive daytime sleepiness significantly raises the risk of all-cause mortality in middle-aged women, according to a large study of over 40,000 female veterans. Women between the ages of 50 and 65 who scored high on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale were 16% more likely to die from any cause, even after adjusting for health and demographic factors.
This association was not observed in younger or older women. Researchers suggest this may point to hormonal or metabolic changes in midlife that influence vulnerability to sleep-related health effects.
Key Facts:
- Critical Window: Daytime sleepiness was only linked to mortality in women aged 50–65.
- Quantified Risk: High Epworth scores raised mortality odds by 16% in midlife women.
- Biological Insight: Findings hint at unique hormonal or metabolic factors in this age group.
Source: AASM
A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting found that excessive daytime sleepiness is associated with higher odds of all-cause mortality in middle-aged women but not in younger or older women.
Results show that the adjusted odds of all-cause mortality were 16% higher in women between the ages of 50 and 65 years who had high scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, compared with women who had normal levels of sleepiness.
The results were adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, body mass index, and comorbidities. No significant associations were observed in younger women or older women.
“Identifying middle age as a critical period suggests clinicians should prioritize an Epworth Sleepiness Scale assessment and excessive daytime sleepiness management in women approaching their 50s and early 60s,” said lead author Arash Maghsoudi, who has a doctorate in biomedical engineering and is an instructor at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Sleepiness is a critical patient-reported outcome that is associated with increased risk for adverse health effects and diminished quality of life, according to an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement. Excessive sleepiness is defined as the inability to stay awake and alert during the major waking episodes of the day.
The study involved a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 40,250 female veterans from 1999 to 2022, focusing on individuals who had a sleep disorder or had received sleep-related care.
The study sample had a mean age of 48 years. Clinical notes were analyzed to extract scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, a validated natural language processing tool that assesses the likelihood of dozing off or falling asleep during routine daily activities.
According to Maghsoudi, it is noteworthy that there was no association between excessive daytime sleepiness and mortality in older women who tend to have more comorbidities.
“It implies hormonal, metabolic, or resilience factors that warrant mechanistic follow-up for women in middle age,” he said.
Funding: The study was supported by funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute within the National Institutes of Health; the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, which is a combined Baylor College of Medicine Section in the Department of Medicine and a VA Health Systems Research Center of Innovation funded by a center grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs; and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston.
About this sleep research news
Author: Hannah Miller
Source: AASM
Contact: Hannah Miller – AASM
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: The findings will be presented at SLEEP 2025
