Independent and combined effects of sleep quality and night sleep duration on health-related quality of life in rural areas: a large-scale cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The combined effect of sleep quality and night sleep duration on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains unclear, especially in resource-limited countries and areas. This study aimed to explore the independent and combined effects of sleep quality and night sleep duration on HRQoL. METHODS: A total of 21,926 eligible participants from the Henan rural cohort study were selected. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was utilized to evaluate sleep quality and night sleep duration. The Tobit regression model, generalized linear model (GLM), and logistic regression model were performed to assess the associations of sleep quality and night sleep duration with HRQoL. The restricted cubic spline was applied to identify the dose–response relationships of sleep quality and night sleep duration with HRQoL. RESULTS: After multivariable adjustment, the Tobit regression and GLM indicated that the regression coefficients [95% confidence interval (CI)] for poor sleep quality were − 0.124 (− 0.133, − 0.114) and − 6.25 (− 6.71, − 5.78) on utility index and VAS score, respectively. Compared with the reference group (7 h-), participants with short sleep duration (< 6 h) or long sleep duration (≥10 h) reported a lower HRQoL. A U-shape relationship between night sleep duration and HRQoL was observed, along with a J-shape relationship between sleep quality and HRQoL (P for non-linear < 0.001). Furthermore, individuals with longer night sleep duration (≥10 h) and poorer sleep quality were strongly associated with lower HRQoL (utility index [odds ratio (OR) (95% CI)]: 6.626 (3.548, 8.920), VAS score [OR (95% CI)]: 2.962 (1.916, 4.578)). CONCLUSION: Poor sleep quality and extreme night sleep duration were independently and combinedly associated with low HRQoL, suggesting that maintaining good sleep quality and appropriate night sleep duration was important. Clinical Trial Registration: The Henan Rural Cohort Study has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Register (Registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-15006699). Date of registration: 06 July, 2015. http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=11375. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12955-022-01936-8.