Sydney, Aug 13: Weekend habits such as late nights, alcohol consumption, and smoking may be contributing to a newly identified sleep health concern known as “social apnea,” according to researchers from Flinders University.
The phenomenon, described in a new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, refers to a weekend spike in the severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) linked to lifestyle choices and irregular sleep patterns.
The research analysed data from more than 70,000 people worldwide and found a consistent increase in OSA severity on weekends.
Experts from FHMRI Sleep Health coined the term “social apnea” to capture this trend.
Lead author and Research Fellow Dr Lucia Pinilla says the condition may be more widespread than previously thought because most clinical testing occurs on weeknights, missing the weekend effect.
The study warns that this spike in sleep-disordered breathing could increase the risk of heart disease, depression, dementia, fatigue, and accidents.
Data showed participants were 18 per cent more likely to experience moderate to severe OSA on Saturdays compared to Wednesdays.
Sleeping an extra 45 minutes or more on weekends raised the risk of more severe apnea by 47 per cent.
Men faced a 21 per cent higher risk, while women saw a nine per cent increase.
Younger adults under 60 were particularly vulnerable, with a 24 per cent higher risk compared to seven per cent in those over 60.
Matthew Flinders Professor Danny Eckert, Director of FHMRI Sleep Health and senior author, says alcohol, lighter sleep, and inconsistent use of OSA therapies may contribute to the weekend spike.
The findings align with separate research, published in Nature Communications Medicine, showing OSA severity also fluctuates seasonally.
Lead author Dr Bastien Lechat says severity tends to increase by 8–19 per cent in summer and winter due to factors such as higher temperatures, disrupted sleep stages, and seasonal changes in sleep length and REM cycles.
Professor Eckert says the results highlight the need for multi-night sleep assessments and more personalised diagnosis and treatment strategies.
He recommends maintaining a consistent sleep routine, keeping a fixed wake-up time, and using prescribed OSA therapy every night to reduce weekend-related spikes.
OSA affects around one billion people worldwide and is caused by repeated airway collapse during sleep.
Left untreated, it increases the risk of serious health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, depression, and even death. People concerned about their sleep are advised to consult their GP.
Media & PR: editor@dailystraits.com. Copyright 2021–Present DailyStraits.com. All rights reserved.