Excessive sleep duration and quality of life

Objective Using population‐based data, we document the comorbidities (medical, neurologic, and psychiatric) and consequences for daily functioning of excessive quantity of sleep (EQS), defined as a main sleep period or 24‐hour sleep duration ≥9 hours accompanied by complaints of impaired functioning or distress due to excessive sleep, and its links to excessive sleepiness. Methods A cross‐sectional telephone study using a representative sample of 19,136 noninstitutionalized individuals living in the United States, aged ≥18 years (participation rate = 83.2%). The Sleep‐EVAL expert system administered questions on life and sleeping habits; health; and sleep, mental, and organic disorders (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, text revision; International Classification of Sleep Disorders: Diagnostic and Coding Manual II, International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th edition). Results Sleeping at least 9 hours per 24‐hour period was reported by 8.4% (95% confidence interval = 8.0–8.8%) of participants; EQS (prolonged sleep episode with distress/impairment) was observed in 1.6% (1.4–1.8%) of the sample. The likelihood of EQS was 3 to 12× higher among individuals with a mood disorder. EQS individuals were 2 to 4× more likely to report poor quality of life than non‐EQS individuals as well as interference with socioprofessional activities and relationships. Although between 33 and 66% of individuals with prolonged sleep perceived it as a major problem, only 6.3 to 27.5% of them reported having sought medical attention. Interpretation EQS is widespread in the general population, co‐occurring with a broad spectrum of sleep, medical, neurologic, and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, physicians must recognize EQS as a mixed clinical entity indicating careful assessment and specific treatment planning. ANN NEUROL 2013;73:785–794