Keywords
Human health
Physiological phenomena
Metabolism
How to Cite
Copyright © | All rights reserved.
The journal holds the exclusive copyright for the publication of this article under the terms of Brazilian law 9610/98.
Partial reproduction
The use of parts of the texts, figures and questionnaire of the article is free, being mandatory the citation of the authors and journal.
Total reproduction
It is expressly prohibited and must be authorized by the journal.
Abstract
Objective: To analyze the effects of chronic sleep deprivation on human health. Literature review: Chronic sleep deprivation is characterized as a multisystem condition capable of compromising essential biological processes and triggering progressive cognitive deficits when wakefulness exceeds physiological limits. The findings indicate neurocognitive and neurodegenerative impairments, as well as significant cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine alterations. In addition, insufficient sleep negatively affects mental health and professional performance, representing an important threat to public health. Final considerations: Chronic sleep deprivation goes beyond simple fatigue, exerting broad and harmful effects on different body systems. Therefore, it is essential to recognize sleep as an indispensable biological component for maintaining homeostasis and quality of life, as well as to implement educational measures and public policies aimed at promoting healthy sleep and raising public awareness about the risks associated with insufficient sleep.
References
ALJURAIBAN GS, et al. Short sleep and social jetlag are associated with higher intakes of non-milk extrinsic sugars and social jetlag is associated with lower fibre intakes in those with adequate sleep duration: a cross-sectional analysis. British Journal of Nutrition, 2022; 127(10): 1544-1553.
BARROS JP, SOUSA CE. Privação crônica do sono e desempenho escolar-acadêmico: uma revisão sistemática. Revista Neurociências, 2022; 30: 1-24.
BASSETTI CL, et al. Epidemiology and economic burden of sleep disorders in Europe. European
Journal of Neurology, 2026; 33: e70463.
BOUAZZA M, et al. The impact of smartphone use at bedtime on sleep quality and academic performance among medical students. Journal of Sleep Research, 2024.
CHAUDHRY N, HUSSAIN ME. Cranial electrostimulation improves slow wave sleep in collegiate population: a polysomnographic study. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2022; 16: 915396.
CHEUNG V, et al. The effect of sleep deprivation and disruption on DNA damage and health of doctors. Anaesthesia, 2019; 74(4): 434-440.
CHIANG JJ. Sleep deprivation and systemic inflammation: elevated circulating markers of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in modern populations. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2024; 154(3): e12894.
DÁTTILO M, et al. Effects of sleep deprivation on testosterone levels and cortisol-to-testosterone ratio in healthy young men. Journal of Sports Sciences, 2020; 38(1): 1-7.
DEVIVA JC, et al. Sleep disturbances and PTSD symptoms: A study on the development and maintenance of psychiatric disorders. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 2021.
DIEKELMANN S, et al. The role of sleep in the consolidation of memory: neurobiological mechanisms and long-term implications. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2024; 25: 112-128.
FARIAS AV, et al. The association between sleep deprivation and arterial pressure variations: a systematic literature review. Sleep Medicine: X, 2022; 4: 100042.
GARBARINO S, et al. Role of sleep deprivation in immune-related disease risk and outcomes. Communications Biology. 2021;4:1304.
GONZÁLEZ-GARCÍA M, et al. Effects of job stressors, stress response, and sleep disturbance on presenteeism in office workers. Scientific Reports, 2024; 14: 7842.
GOTTESMAN RT, et al. Short sleep duration and the increased risk of premature mortality: a longitudinal cohort study. The Lancet Public Health, 2024; 9(1): e45-e53.
HABIBURRAHMAN M, et al. Effects of sleep deprivation on attention, working memory and executive functions among medical undergraduates. International Journal of Psychiatry Research, 2025; 7(1): 148-154.
HE J, et al. Chronic sleep deprivation induced oral inflammation and subtle changes on oral microbiota in rats. Frontiers in Immunology, 2022; 13: 847132.
HUDSON AN, et al. Sleep deprivation, vigilant attention, and brain function: a review. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2020; 45(1): 21–30.
HYNDYCH A, et al. The role of sleep and the effects of sleep loss on cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes. Cureus, 2025; 17(5): e84232.
KHAN MA, AL-JAHDALI H. The consequences of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. Neurosciences (Riyadh), 2023; 28(2): 91-99.
LAMON S, et al. The effect of acute sleep deprivation on skeletal muscle protein synthesis and the hormonal environment. The Journal of Physiology, 2021; 599(1): 327-341.
LECLERC A. Neuro-immunology of sleep: impacts on immune system performance and emotional dysregulation. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2024; 116: 204-215.
LEE KY, et al. Examining the impact of burnout on hospital nurses engaged in shift work: insights from a nationwide cross-sectional study in Malaysia. SAGE Open Nursing, 2024; 10: 1245212.
LI X, et al. Sleep deprivation promotes endothelial inflammation and atherogenesis by reducing exosomal miR-182-5p. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2023; 43(6): 995-1014.
LIEW SC, AUNG T. Sleep deprivation and its association with diseases: a review. Sleep Medicine, 2021; 77: 192-204.
MCHILL AW, et al. Early morning food intake as a risk factor for metabolic dysregulation. Nutrients, 2020; 12(3): 756.
NAIR S, et al. Fatigue and clinical decision-making: a study on medication errors and patient safety among shift-working nurses. BMJ Open Quality, 2024.
PALMIERI DF, et al. Cardiovascular risk factors across job roles and work shifts in a Brazilian Military Police cohort: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Public Health, 2025; 13: 1716547.
RAHMAN SA, et al. Effects of sleep deprivation on neurobehavioral performance and physiological homeostasis. Frontiers in Psychology, 2020.
RAMOS AR, et al. Sleep deprivation, sleep disorders, and chronic disease. Preventing Chronic Disease, 2023; 20: E77.
RATHAGIRISHNAN R, BHANGU A. Inappropriate sleep duration may influence the economic burden of health care: a prevalence-based estimation study. 2 Minute Medicine / Journal of Sleep Research, 2022.
REDDY S, et al. Sleep deprivation as a silent pandemic: sociodemographic disparities and public health dimensions. Frontiers in Sleep, 2023.
SAHAROV G, et al. Cross-sectional analysis of sleep quality and vascular health in shift- and day-working nurses. Clocks & Sleep, 2025; 7(4): 58.
SAWADA Y, et al. Prefrontal synaptic regulation of homeostatic sleep. Science, 2024; 386(6718): eadl3043.
SOUISSI W, et al. Partial sleep deprivation affects endurance performance and psychophysiological responses during 12-minute self-paced running exercise. Physiology & Behavior, 2020; 227: 113165.
TARTAR JL, et al. Cumulative neurobehavioral deficits in chronic sleep deprivation: an analysis of recovery and persistence. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 2022; 16: 894321.
WHEATON AG, et al. Prevalence and geographic patterns of self-reported short sleep duration among US adults, 2020. Preventing Chronic Disease, 2023; 20: 220400.
WONG SY, et al. Simulated night work and its impact on sleep, circadian phase, and work performance: a randomized controlled trial. BMJ Open, 2022.
ZHANG L, et al. Relationships among nurses’ shift work disorder, mental health and burnout: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Public Health, 2023.
ZHAO Y, et al. Exercise to prevent the negative effects of sleep deprivation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 2023; 155: 105433.