A meta-analysis of the associations between insufficient sleep duration and antibody response to vaccination.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Meta-analysis of non-randomized observational cohorts and small experimental studies
PubMed 36917932 · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.017
What was done
Authors conducted a meta-analysis pooling studies that evaluated the association between sleep duration around the time of vaccination and antibody responses in healthy adults. Analyses assessed both self-reported short sleep (<6 hours per night) and objectively measured sleep duration, with subgroup analyses evaluating differences by sex.
What was found
Self-reported short sleep was not significantly associated with reduced vaccine response (ES 0.29, 95% CI [-0.04, 0.63]; n = 504, ages 18–85). Objectively assessed short sleep was associated with a statistically significant decrease in antibody response (ES 0.79, 95% CI [0.40, 1.18]; n = 304, ages 18–60). In stratified analyses, the pooled effect was large and significant in men (ES 0.93, 95% CI [0.54, 1.33]), but did not reach statistical significance in women (ES 0.42, 95% CI [-0.49, 1.32]).
Why it matters
This indicates that behavioral factors like sleep around vaccination timing may influence antiviral immune response, highlighting a potential modifiable target to optimize vaccine efficacy.
Limits
The total sample size across pooled cohorts is small (n = 304 for objective measures). The abstract does not specify the specific vaccines studied, the precise timing window around inoculation, or the biological mechanism explaining the observed sex disparity.
Cited by
- supports People who get more sleep prior to vaccination develop a stronger immune response with higher antibody titers, such as to the influenza vaccine.