Surgeon Sleep Timing Tied to Risk
Severe social jet lag among surgeons was associated with higher rates of major adverse events, independent of sleep duration, workload, and patient risk.
By
Andrea Surnit
June 3, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Surgeon Sleep Timing Tied to Risk
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Major adverse events following surgery Key Mechanisms Association between surgeon sleep timing irregularity and postoperative complications Target Population Adult patients undergoing surgery Care Setting University hospitals
Key Highlights
Surgeons with severe social jet lag (≥2 hours) had a 36% higher adjusted risk of major adverse events. Major adverse events occurred in 20% of operations studied. Only 5% of operations were performed by surgeons with severe social jet lag. Midsleep time variability and sleep duration were not independently associated with adverse events. Burnout among surgeons correlated with higher social jet lag and midsleep time variability. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Assess surgeon sleep timing using social jet lag metrics. Management
Consider surgeon sleep regularity as a factor in surgical outcomes. Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitor sleep patterns of surgeons to identify potential risks. Risks
Severe social jet lag is associated with increased risk of major adverse events. Patient & Prescribing Data
Adult surgical patients excluding palliative and organ donation procedures.
Surgeon sleep timing may influence postoperative outcomes.
Clinical Best Practices
Encourage consistent sleep schedules for surgeons. Evaluate surgeon burnout as part of preoperative assessments. Implement monitoring of sleep patterns in surgical teams. Related Resources & Content
