A short, small study can’t prove opening doors or windows improves sleep quality
Rating
Open windows and doors can improve sleep quality
Our Review Summary
In this very small study of 17 healthy volunteers in the Netherlands, scientists measured their sleep as they either slept in a closed room or with doors and windows open. The story claims the volunteers “slept better” with windows and door open, but gave no numbers for the amount of improvement, and didn’t do enough to let readers know this study had a lot of limitations.
Why This Matters
Sleep quality can make an enormous difference in the risk of many chronic disorders, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control. While we welcome a discussion of sleep quality, this story about a small study provides very little context for readers on how much air quality really plays a role in sleep quality.
Criteria
Not Applicable
The opening of windows and doors has no cost.
Not Satisfactory
The story doesn’t quantify what “improved” sleep quality means, only generalities.
For example, the story claims improvement in fewer awakenings:
“The number of awakenings and sleep efficiency improved as carbon dioxide levels decreased.”
But we are not given any way to understand the magnitude–how much did these things improve?
Satisfactory
There appear to be no immediate potential harms, but the story mentions indirect ones like extra noise or concerns about security.
Not Satisfactory
The story doesn’t sufficiently establish the quality of the evidence here–this was a small study, with lots of potential cofounders, which are factors that could have thrown off the measurements. The story mentions one limitation–the sleep monitors often fell of the study participants. But more needed to be said that this study isn’t rigorous enough to determine that sleeping with open windows or doors leads to improved sleep.
Satisfactory
There was no disease mongering.
Satisfactory
A sleep researcher who wasn’t involved in the study was interviewed, and we could detect no conflicts of interest.
Not Satisfactory
The story doesn’t provide alternative treatments known to improve sleep quality, such as establishing good sleep hygiene.
Not Applicable
Windows and doors are widely available, and the story mentions that opening them might not work if there are noise or security concerns.
Not Satisfactory
The story does not establish what makes this research novel. It’s fairly well-known that indoor air quality can be poor, and that ventilation can help circulate the air.
Satisfactory
The story does not appear to rely solely on a news release, and quotes a researcher who was not part of the project.
Total Score: 4 of 8 Satisfactory
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