Sleep duration, obesity, and asthma, in Florida adolescents: analysis of data from the Florida Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2009–2013)

Purpose To examine the association between sleep duration and asthma among Florida high school students and whether body mass index (BMI) modifies this association. Methods This cross-sectional analysis included 16,728 participants in the Florida Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2009–2013). Using logistic regression, we examined the association between sleep duration and asthma, and, after controlling for potential confounders, analyzed the interaction between sleep duration and BMI. Results Sleeping for less than 7 h or more than 8 h on school night was associated with increased odds of current asthma. Compared with 7–8 h of sleep per night, sleeping for <7 h had an OR of 1.22 (95% CI 1.07, 1.40), while sleeping for ≥9 h had and OR of 1.31 (1.06, 1.63). When stratified by body mass index (BMI), these associations were significant only in overweight adolescents, with those sleeping for <7 or ≥9 h having approximately twice the odds of having current asthma (OR = 1.75 (1.45, 2.11) and OR = 2.00 (1.32, 3.02) respectively), compared with normal weight adolescents who slept for 7–8 h per night. Conclusion The association between sleep duration and asthma in adolescents is modified by BMI. Short and long sleep durations are associated with asthma in overweight adolescents while no significant association is seen in those with normal BMI.