Adults who tend to stay up late at night score lower on cardiovascular health assessments and face a higher risk of heart attack or stroke, according to a new study.
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The study, published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, examined how a person’s chronotype—their natural tendency to be active in the morning or evening—is linked to overall heart health.
According to the study, reported by the U.S. network Fox News, researchers analyzed data from the UK Biobank over a 14-year period, involving nearly 300,000 adults with an average age of 57.
About 8% of participants described themselves as “definite evening types,” meaning they stay up very late at night. Another 24% said they were “definite morning types,” preferring to wake up and go to bed early.
The largest group—67% of participants—fell into the “intermediate” category, indicating they did not strongly identify with either group.
Each participant’s heart health was assessed using the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Essential 8” score, a comprehensive measure that includes physical activity levels, diet, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, nicotine use, sleep patterns, weight management, and blood sugar levels.
Researchers also examined the incidence of heart attacks or strokes during the follow-up period. They found that people who were more active in the evening (night owls) were 79% more likely to have poorer cardiovascular health compared with the intermediate group, and 16% more likely to experience heart attacks or strokes.
The results showed that individuals who identified as more active in the morning generally had slightly better heart health. This association was more pronounced in women than in men.
Dr. Sinaa Kianersi, the study’s lead author and a fellow at Harvard Medical School, said:
“People who prefer staying up late often experience circadian misalignment, meaning their internal biological clock may not align with the natural light–dark cycle or with their usual daily schedules.”
She added that night owls “may be more likely to engage in behaviors that negatively affect cardiovascular health, such as poorer diet quality, smoking, and insufficient or irregular sleep.”
Asharq Al-Awsat
