STUDY OBJECTIVE:

To examine the relationship between lifestyle, health status factors and sleep loss.

DESIGN:

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan.

SETTING:

N/A.

PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS:

Approximately 30,000 subjects selected from the general population in Japan.

INTERVENTIONS:

N/A.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS:

This study indicated that approximately 28% of the general population sleep less than 6 hours nightly and approximately 65% sleep less than 7 hours. However, approximately 80% of the population reported getting sufficient sleep. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that being females, being of younger age, living in an urban environment, being unemployed, and having an unhealthy lifestyle (i.e., lack of exercise, poor health status, and irregular eating habits) were associated with sleep loss.

CONCLUSION:

In this study, sleep loss was found to be associated with having an unhealthy lifestyle and being in poor general health. These findings suggest that health education and promotion of a healthy lifestyle should be advocated.