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Relationship of Suboptimal and Disordered Sleep with Cardiovascular Disease and Its Risk Factors - A Narrative Review
Benjamin Wipper1, Lukas Mayer-Suess2, Matteo Cesari3
1Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Insights
Poor sleep quality and sleep disorders are increasingly linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and outcomes. Addressing sleep issues may play a role in preventing and managing heart disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sleep Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of death, with a rising burden.
- Modifiable risk factors for CVD have been identified, with a growing focus on sleep.
- Disrupted and disordered sleep patterns are increasingly associated with CVD development and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research on the association between sleep and cardiovascular disease.
- To explore the link between suboptimal sleep and non-breathing-related sleep disorders with CVD risk factors.
- To examine the impact of sleep on CVD outcomes, including morbidity and mortality.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of existing scientific literature.
- Synthesis of findings from longitudinal studies and observational research.
- Focus on non-breathing-related sleep disorders and their cardiovascular implications.
Main Results:
- Suboptimal sleep, including short/long sleep duration and fragmented sleep, is linked to increased CVD risk.
- Sleep disorders such as insomnia and restless legs syndrome are associated with modifiable CVD risk factors.
- Evidence suggests a connection between sleep disturbances and adverse CVD outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Sleep quality and sleep disorders are significant factors influencing cardiovascular health.
- Improving sleep may offer a novel strategy for primary and secondary CVD prevention.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the sleep-CVD relationship.
Background:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, is already amongst the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, but its burden continues to rise. Over time, relevant risk factors for CVD have been identified, many of which are modifiable. More recently, the relationship of sleep and CVD has been of interest, specifically increased rates of disrupted and disordered sleep, which have been found to be associated with CVD. Longitudinal studies have linked sleep difficulties to a predisposition of vascular risk factors, suggesting a potential role for sleep improvement in primary and secondary CVD.
Summary:
In the present narrative review article, we summarize the current body of research linking suboptimal sleep (e.g., short/long sleep, fragmented sleep) as well as nonbreathing-related sleep disorders (i.e., insomnia, restless legs syndrome/peripheral leg movements of sleep, narcolepsy) to modifiable CVD risk factors and CVD outcomes (morbidity and mortality).
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