Occup Environ Med. 2026 Aug 18:oemed-2025-110766. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2025-110766. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To examine the associations of sleep disturbances and sleep duration with working life expectancy (WLE; the estimated number of years an individual is expected to be in the workforce) from age 50 to 68.

METHODS: Data of individuals ≥50 years were drawn from two cohort studies: the Finnish Public Sector (FPS) study involving public sector employees in 2000-2016 (n=70 339, 80% women) and the Health and Social Support (HeSSup) study in 1998-2013 initially representing the general working age population in Finland (n=6071, 54% women). Participants reported sleep disturbances (none, moderate, severe, only in FPS) and usual sleep duration (short: <7 hours, mid-range: 7-8.5 hours, long: ≥9 hours). WLE from age 50 to 68 was estimated using multistate life table models.

RESULTS: Reporting no sleep disturbances predicted a WLE of 13.4 years (95% CI 13.4 to 13.5), moderate sleep disturbances a WLE of 13.0 years (95% CI 13.0 to 13.1) and severe sleep disturbances a WLE of 12.8 years (95% CI 12.7 to 12.8) at 50 years of age. Short sleep duration predicted a WLE of 13.2 years (95% CI 13.1 to 13.2), mid-range sleep duration a WLE of 13.2 years (95% CI 13.1 to 13.2) and long sleep duration a WLE of 12.4 years (95% CI 12.3 to 12.6). The findings on sleep duration were more pronounced in HeSSup.

CONCLUSIONS: Severe sleep disturbances and long sleep duration were associated with a reduction of approximately 8-9 months in WLE compared with no disturbances or mid-range sleep duration. To promote older adults’ participation in working life, supporting sleep of recommended length and good quality may be required.

PMID:42613187 | DOI:10.1136/oemed-2025-110766