Individual aspects of poor sleep can be detrimental to heart health. But if you combine them, the risk of heart disease can increase by as much as 141 percent.
From:
University of South Florida (USF Innovation)
February 7, 2022 -- The University of
South Florida-led study reviewed sleep data of 6,820 U.S. adults with an
average age of 53 who self-reported their sleep characteristics and heart
disease history. Among the participants, 633 also wore a research device
(actigraphy) around their wrist that captured sleep activity.
Researchers focused on multiple aspects
of sleep health, such as regularity, satisfaction, alertness during waking
hours, timing of sleep, sleep efficiency and sleep duration and linked them to
physician-diagnosed heart disease. They found that each additional increase in
self-reported sleep health problems was associated with a 54 percent increased
risk of heart disease. The estimated risk of heart disease associated with an
increase in sleep health problems was much higher for those who provided sleep
data by both self-report and the research device. They had a 141 percent
increase -- a figure that could be perceived to be more accurate.
"These findings show the importance
of assessing 'co-existing sleep health problems' within an individual to
capture the risk of heart disease. This is one of the first studies showing
that, among well-functioning adults in midlife, having more sleep health
problems may increase the risk of heart disease," said lead author Soomi
Lee, assistant professor of aging studies and director of the STEALTH lab at
USF. "The higher estimated risk in those who provided both self-report and
actigraphy sleep data suggests that measuring sleep health accurately and
comprehensively is important to increase the prediction of heart disease."
The research team asked participants
about their health, including if their physician confirmed a heart condition
such as arrythmia, heart murmur or an enlarged heart. High blood pressure was
not considered a diagnosis as it's labeled a risk factor for heart disease
rather than a heart disease condition. They also controlled for family history
of heart disease and sociodemographic factors, such as race, sex, smoking,
depression and physical activity.
Researchers found that while women
reported having more sleep health problems, men were more likely to suffer
heart disease -- yet gender did not impact the overall correlation between the
two factors. They also found that Black participants had more sleep health
problems and a higher prevalence of heart disease than white participants, but
the strong association between sleep health and heart disease did not differ by
race in general.
Lee says while sleep health is important
for all ages, the team focused on middle adulthood as it spans for a longer
period of time and consists of diverse and more stressful life experiences due
to work and family roles. This is also when precursors for heart disease and
age-related sleep issues begin to arise.
Since sleep health can be modified,
researchers say these findings can contribute to future prevention strategies
to mitigate the risk of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in
the U.S.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220207155642.htm
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