Epidemiology and population health

Knowing the prevalence, causes and consequences of sleep-related issues within populations and how to best prevent or manage these conditions and their consequences is an essential part of sleep health research.

Our researchers specialise in studying and understanding the relationship between sleep and various aspects of public health. They investigate patterns, causes, and consequences of sleep-related issues, contribute to the development of public health interventions and evaluate programs within populations.

OUR RESEARCH

Epidemiology asks the big questions about sleep health. We collaborate with researchers across the broad spectrum of sleep health work conducted at FHMRI Sleep Health, with industry, other Universities and Government Departments both nationally and internationally on large cohort studies.

We conduct innovative longitudinal and cohort research initiatives to promote prevention, and early detection and better management of sleep disorders to improve quality of life, wellbeing, and physical and mental health. This work is situated within specific clinical populations but also the wider community.

Current research projects include:

Improving the management of obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia in primary health care setting. Learn more
Understanding the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental and physical health in Australian men & designing interventions to improve outcomes.
Increasing the value of evidence from nutritional epidemiology.

Featured publications

Sleep Irregularity Is Associated with Hypertension: Findings from over 2 Million Nights with a Large Global Population Sample, Scott, H., Lechat, B., Guyett, A., Reynolds, A. C., Lovato, N., Naik, G., Appleton, S., Adams, R., Escourrou, P., Catcheside, P. & Eckert, D. J., May 2023, In: Hypertension. 80, 5, p. 1117-1126 10 p.
Associations of Baseline Sleep Microarchitecture with Cognitive Function After 8 Years in Middle-Aged and Older Men from a Community-Based Cohort Study, Parker, J. L., Vakulin, A., Melaku, Y. A., Wittert, G. A., Martin, S. A., D’Rozario, A. L., Catcheside, P. G., Lechat, B., Toson, B., Teare, A. J., Appleton, S. L. & Adams, R. J., 24 May 2023, In: Nature and Science of Sleep. 15, p. 389-406 18 p.
Association of co-morbid insomnia and sleep apnoea symptoms with all-cause mortality: Analysis of the NHANES 2005-2008 data, Sweetman, A., Lechat, B., Appleton, S., Reynolds, A., Adams, R. & Melaku, Y. A., Dec 2022, In: Sleep Epidemiology. 2, 8 p., 100043.
All-Cause Mortality in People with Co-Occurring Insomnia Symptoms and Sleep Apnea: Analysis of the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort, Lechat, B., Loffler, K. A., Wallace, D. M., Reynolds, A., Appleton, S. L., Scott, H., Vakulin, A., Lovato, N., Adams, R., Eckert, D. J., Catcheside, P. G. & Sweetman, A., 13 Oct 2022, In: Nature and Science of Sleep. 14, p. 1817-1828 12 p.
Association Between Sleep Microstructure and Incident Hypertension in a Population-Based Sample: The HypnoLaus Study, Berger, M., Vakulin, A., Hirotsu, C., Marchi, N. A., Solelhac, G., Bayon, V., Siclari, F., Haba-Rubio, J., Vaucher, J., Vollenweider, P., Marques-Vidal, P., Lechat, B., Catcheside, P. G., Eckert, D. J., Adams, R. J., Appleton, S. & Heinzer, R., 19 Jul 2022, In: Journal of the American Heart Association. 11, 14, 14 p., e025828.
Comorbidities and quality of life in Australian men and women with diagnosed and undiagnosed high-risk obstructive sleep apnea, Krishnan, S., Chai-Coetzer, C. L., Grivell, N., Lovato, N., Mukherjee, S., Vakulin, A., Adams, R. J. & Appleton, S. L., 1 Jul 2022, In: Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 18, 7, p. 1757-1767 11 p.
High quality and anti-inflammatory diets and a healthy lifestyle are associated with lower sleep apnea risk, Melaku, Y. A., Reynolds, A. C., Appleton, S., Sweetman, A., Shi, Z., Vakulin, A., Catcheside, P., Eckert, D. & Adams, R., 1 Jun 2022, In: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 18, 6, p. 1667–1679 13 p.
The changing profile of obstructive sleep apnea: long term trends in characteristics of patients presenting for diagnostic polysomnography, Marriott, R. J., McArdle, N., Singh, B., King, S., Ling, I., Ward, K., Darcey, E., Bond-Smith, D., Mukherjee, S., Palmer, L. J., Hillman, D. & Cadby, G., 2022, In: Sleep Science. 15, p. 28-40 13 p.
Insomnia Prevalence Varies with Symptom Criteria Used with Implications for Epidemiological Studies: Role of Anthropometrics, Sleep Habit, and Comorbidities, Appleton, S. L., Reynolds, A. C., Gill, T. K., Melaku, Y. A. & Adams, R. J., 21 Apr 2022, In: Nature and Science of Sleep. 14, p. 775-790 16 p.
Multidimensional sleep health is associated with mental well-being in Australian adults, Appleton, S. L., Melaku, Y. A., Reynolds, A. C., Gill, T. K., de Batlle, J. & Adams, R. J., Apr 2022, In: Journal of Sleep Research. 31, 2, 16 p., e13477.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of upper airway sensation in obstructive sleep apnea – Implications for pathogenesis, treatment and future research directions, Wallace, E. S., Carberry, J. C., Toson, B. & Eckert, D. J., Apr 2022, In: Sleep Medicine Reviews. 62, 11 p., 101589.
Linking health service utilisation and mortality data - unravelling what happens after fall-related paramedic care Mikolaizak, A. S., Harvey, L., Toson, B., Lord, S. R., Tiedemann, A., Howard, K. & Close, J. C. T., Jan 2022, In: Age and Ageing. 51, 1, 10 p., afab254.
The association between sleep microarchitecture and cognitive function in middle-aged and older men: a community-based cohort study Parker, J. L., Appleton, S. L., Melaku, Y. A., D'Rozario, A. L., Wittert, G. A., Martin, S. A., Toson, B., Catcheside, P. G., Lechat, B., Teare, A. J., Adams, R. J. & Vakulin, A., 1 Jun 2022, In: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 18, 6, p. 1593-1608 16 p.

Resources

Australian Sleep Association website

Final Report: Parliamentary Inquiry into Sleep Health Awareness in Australia

GROUP MEMBERS

Associate Professor Sutapa Mukherjee

Research theme Co-lead

Associate Professor Sutapa Mukherjee has extensive experience with large population based cohort studies, is a senior respiratory and sleep physician and currently co-chair of the International Sleep Genetic Epidemiology Consortium.

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Professor Robert Adams

Research theme Co-lead

Prof Adams is Principal Investigator of The North West Adelaide Health Study (NWAHS) and co-led the process of harmonisation with the Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study (FAMAS), such that there are now over 2000 men aged over 35 being followed in the Male Androgen, Inflammation, Lifestyle, Environment and Stress (MAILES) cohort. He was responsible for the conduct of sleep studies in almost 850 men in the MAILES cohort, one of the largest longitudinal cohort studies worldwide of sleep health in the community.

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Associate Professor Amy Reynolds

Associate Professor Andrew Vakulin

Senior Research Fellow Yohannes Melaku

Research Fellow Sarah Appleton

Research Fellow Barbara Toson

Research Fellow Bastien Lechat

WORK WITH US

We have long-term international and Australian sleep health partnerships across universities, South Australian Local Health Network and with industry groups. Please contact a research directly to discuss opportunities.

CONTACT

Please contact a researcher directly by following the link to their individual contact pages above. Alternatively, you can email aish.sleeplab@flinders.edu.au

aish.sleeplab@flinders.edu.au