Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 28, 2026

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Children
09:45

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Children

Published on: April 29, 2013

21.6K

Sleep and cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents

Jonas S Quist1, Anders Sjödin2, Jean-Philippe Chaput3

  • 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Sleep Medicine Reviews
|December 20, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Inadequate sleep in children and adolescents is linked to increased cardiometabolic risk factors, including abdominal obesity and high blood pressure. Prioritizing sufficient, regular sleep is recommended for long-term cardiovascular health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Growing evidence suggests a connection between sleep patterns and cardiometabolic health in young individuals.
  • Existing literature lacks a comprehensive review of these associations.
  • Cardiometabolic risk factors include abdominal adiposity, glucose homeostasis, blood lipids, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review existing literature on the association between sleep variables and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents.
  • To synthesize the current evidence regarding sleep's role in pediatric cardiometabolic health.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of 75 studies was conducted.
  • Studies examined associations between sleep variables and measures of abdominal adiposity, glucose homeostasis, blood lipids, blood pressure (BP), and inflammatory markers.
  • Data from cross-sectional studies using parent or self-report sleep assessments were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Inadequate sleep shows a compelling association with abdominal adiposity, decreased insulin sensitivity, and elevated blood pressure in children and adolescents.
  • The link between inadequate sleep and blood lipids or inflammatory markers is less convincing.
  • Most studies are cross-sectional, and sleep is often subjectively measured.

Conclusions:

  • Inadequate sleep may contribute to cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents.
  • Future research should employ longitudinal designs with objective sleep measurements over extended periods.
  • Adequate, consistent sleep patterns are recommended for children and adolescents to promote cardiovascular health.

Keywords:
Abdominal adiposityAdolescentsBlood pressureCardiometabolic riskChildrenDyslipidemiaGlucose homeostasisHypertensionInflammationSleep

More Related Videos

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges08:22

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges

Published on: February 25, 2016

16.1K
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

28.0K

Related Concept Videos

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
1.3K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
330
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
3.2K
Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
1.8K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
462
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
1.6K