Time-varying associations of temperature and sleep as a marker of heat adaptation: A case study of Spanish outdoor workers over one summer of continuous monitoring - 18/10/26
, Constanza Vielma b, Joan Ballester b, Xavier Basagaña b, c, d, Tarik Benmarhnia e, f, Basile Chaix a, Guillaume Chevance b, c, d, e, f
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Highlights |
• | Continuous monitoring of outdoor workers throughout the summer revealed that heat consistently impaired both objective and subjective sleep measures under real-world conditions. |
• | Indoor nighttime temperature showed stronger associations with sleep outcomes than outdoor temperature, underscoring the relevance of indoor exposure in heat–sleep research. |
• | Identifying time-varying temperature–sleep associations offer a novel framework for studying short-term human adaptation to heat. |
• | The adverse effects of temperature on subjective sleep quality weakened by late summer, suggesting potential adaptation processes. |
• | The findings highlight the need to clarify the mechanisms underlying heat adaptation to guide interventions protecting sleep and occupational safety in a warming world. |
Abstract |
Introduction |
Rising global temperatures are increasingly recognized as a threat to sleep health. Outdoor workers, who often endure prolonged exposure to outdoor heat, may also be impacted by indoor nighttime temperatures. However, few studies have examined both exposures in this population, and, little is known about potential adaptation to heat in relation to sleep outcomes.
Methods |
We conducted an intensive longitudinal study with 13 Spanish outdoor workers over a 3-month summer period, during which sleep outcomes (i.e., total sleep time [TST], sleep efficiency [SE], and subjective sleep quality) were measured daily via an activity monitor and ecological momentary assessments. Temperatures were monitored both indoors and outdoors, using bedroom sensors and weather station data. Linear mixed-effects models were used to quantify the daily associations between heat and sleep.
Results |
Across the whole summer, each 1 °C increase in outdoor and indoor temperature led respectively to decreases of 2.13 (95% CI: −3.84, −0.42) and 3.18 (95% CI: −5.67, −0.70) minutes in total sleep time (TST); 0.09 (95% CI: −0.17, −0.01) and 0.18 (95% CI: −0.30, −0.07) percentage points in sleep efficiency (SE); and 0.09 (95% CI: −0.14, −0.04) and 0.17 (95% CI: −0.24, −0.09) points in subjective sleep quality. Time-varying analyses revealed that the adverse effects of heat on subjective sleep quality were attenuated in August compared with June and July for similar temperatures.
Discussion |
We found that both indoor and outdoor temperatures were associated with poorer sleep outcomes during the whole summer, along with preliminary evidence of reduced heat-related effects on subjective sleep quality later in the summer.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Keywords : Sleep, Heat exposure, Heat stress, Outdoor workers, Accelerometer, Climate change
Plan
Vol 32
Article 100747- novembre 2026 Retour au numéro
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