Greater sleep variability is associated with higher systemic inflammation in type 2 diabetes

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Sleep irregularity and variability are known risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases.
• Systemic inflammation, indicated by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), plays a crucial role in cardiovascular complications.
• Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and often coexists with sleep disturbances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between day-to-day sleep irregularity and variability with systemic inflammation (hs-CRP) in patients with type 2 diabetes.
• To determine if sleep variability is an independent predictor of hs-CRP levels, controlling for other relevant factors.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 35 non-shift-working patients with type 2 diabetes.
• Sleep variability and regularity were quantified using 14-day actigraphy measuring standard deviation of sleep duration and midpoint.
• hs-CRP, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were measured; sleep apnea was assessed via home monitoring.

Main Results:

• Higher sleep variability was significantly associated with elevated hs-CRP (r=0.342, p=0.044).
• HbA1c (r=0.431, p=0.010) and LDL (r=0.379, p=0.025) were also associated with hs-CRP.
• Multiple regression confirmed that higher sleep variability (B=0.907, p=0.038) and HbA1c (B=1.519, p=0.035) independently predicted higher hs-CRP levels.

Conclusions:

• Increased sleep variability in type 2 diabetes patients is independently associated with higher systemic inflammation.
• This finding suggests that sleep variability contributes to increased cardiovascular risk in this population.
• Further research into sleep interventions aimed at reducing variability is warranted to improve cardiometabolic health.