Hyperuricemia—a condition closely associated with gout—is also linked to metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney and cardiovascular diseases. In a study of postmenopausal women published by Son et al in the journal Menopause, researchers found that among those who were getting insufficient sleep during the week, getting 1 to 2 hours of catch-up sleep on the weekend was associated with a lower risk of hyperuricema. In general, maintenance of good sleep duration lowered the chances of hyperuricema, but the study authors noted that the added hours of sleep during the weekend may serve as an alternative to extended durations of sleep during the week.
Menopause is the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). In a companion press release issued on the findings, NAMS Medical Director Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA, commented, “Elevated serum uric acid levels are associated with multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors, whereas sufficient, good-quality sleep has proven health benefits. This study shows that weekend catch-up sleep of just 1 to 2 hours was linked with a lower prevalence of hyperuricemia in postmenopausal women with insufficient sleep. Although the mechanisms responsible for these findings remain unclear, a weekend nap may be just what the doctor ordered.”