AHA

AHA 2025: Long-term melatonin use linked to higher heart failure risk

November 4, 2025

Melatonin supplements, widely available over the counter and unregulated in the U.S., are generally considered safe for chronic insomnia. However, a large retrospective analysis to be presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 suggests careful consideration before recommending long-term melatonin use for sleep disorders. Long-term melatonin use was associated with significantly higher risks of heart failure, hospitalization, and all-cause mortality.

Study details: Using the TriNetX Global Research Network, investigators reviewed five years of electronic health records from 130,828 adults with insomnia (mean age, 55.7; 61.4% women). Patients using melatonin for ≥1 year were propensity-matched to non-users across 40 clinical and demographic variables. Those with prior heart failure or who used other sleep medications were excluded.

Key findings:

• Long-term melatonin users had a 90% higher risk of developing heart failure vs. non-users (4.6% vs. 2.7%)
• Melatonin users were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure (19.0% vs. 6.6%)
• Risk of death from any cause was nearly doubled among melatonin users (7.8% vs. 4.3%)

Source:

American Heart Association. “Long-term use of melatonin supplements to support sleep may have negative health effects.” News release, Nov. 3, 2025. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/long-term-use-of-melatonin-supplements-to-support-sleep-may-have-negative-health-effects