The siesta and mortality: Twelve years of prospective observations in 70-year-olds

Abstract

Study objective: To examine effect of siesta on mortality. Design: A 12 years prospective cohort. Setting: Population sample. Participants: Residents of Jerusalem (n=455), 70 year olds. Interventions: N/A Results: There were more males in the group with the siesta(n=276), 68% and more (16%) past myocardial infarction than those without the siesta, 6% (n=179) p<0.01. After 12 years 147 subjects died. Survival was 64% in people practicing the siesta, and 74%, who did not p=0.005. In a Cox proportional hazard model, that included many confounding factors hazard ratio (HR) for mortality was 1.6 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-2.7, for those who napped. After exclusion of the 19 subjects who died during the first 2 years of follow-up, the hazard ratio was not materially altered, HR of 1.6 95% CI, 1.0-2.6. Conclusion: Although causality is not clear, the siesta appears to be a significantly independent mortality predictor.