Positive association of nap duration with risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in an occupational population in Guangdong Province, China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: A lack of sleep or disorder in sleep–wake cycles has been associated with metabolic impairments. However, few studies have investigated the association between daytime napping duration and the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This study aimed to investigate the association of daytime napping duration with the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a Chinese population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the Health Management Center of Nanfang Hospital, Guangdong Province. A total of 3363 participants aged 20–79 years were recruited and admitted from January 20, 2018, to October 16, 2020. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was diagnosed using abdominal ultrasonography. The outcome was the association between daytime sleep duration and the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. RESULTS: Compared with non-nappers, long daytime nappers (≥ 60 min) were associated with a higher risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the crude model (odds ratio 2.138; 95% confidence interval 1.88–2.61, P < 0.05) and in the multivariable adjustment model (odds ratio 2.211; 95% confidence interval 1.042–4.690, P < 0.05) after adjusting for demographic, educational, and metabolic risk factors. The association was moderately enhanced with additional adjustments for night sleep duration and socioeconomic or other factors (odds ratio 2.253; 95% confidence interval 1.061–4.786, P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: In this cross-sectional study, daytime napping duration of ≥ 60 min was positively associated with the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in an occupational population of Guangdong Province after multivariable adjustment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-022-02246-5.