Sleeping without borders: Gaps in contextualizing sleep duration guidelines for adults in low-income countries

Empirical data on adult sleep health are scarce in many low-income countries, despite the significant health risks associated with inadequate sleep. To help address this gap in low-income countries, the World Sleep Society’s Global Sleep Health Taskforce recommends applying evidence from high-income settings — such as guidance from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine/Sleep Research Society AASM/SRS) and the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) to inform the development of sleep health policies and programs.

Current sleep duration recommendations lack contextualization for low-income settings and do not meet WHO standards in this regard. Future guideline development should broaden evidence sources, engage local stakeholders, and apply participatory frameworks to ensure cultural relevance, equity, and practical implementation.