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Changes in sleep duration status and risk of high carotid intima-media thickness in children: A prospective cohort
Yuxiao Zhu1, Chongran Ma1, Yanan Qiao1
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University/Children Cardiovascular Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
Insights
Persistent or new short sleep duration increases children's risk of high carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Resolving short sleep duration may reduce this cardiovascular risk, highlighting the importance of adequate sleep in childhood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric cardiovascular health
- Sleep medicine
- Public health
Background:
- Short sleep duration is prevalent in children and linked to increased risk of high carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), a subclinical atherosclerosis marker.
- The impact of changes in sleep duration status on high cIMT risk in children remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between evolving sleep duration status and high cIMT in a cohort of Chinese children.
Main Methods:
- 1115 children (6-11 years) were followed from 2017 to 2021.
- Children were classified by sleep duration (short vs. normal) at baseline and follow-up into four groups.
- High cIMT was defined as cIMT ≥ age- and sex-specific 90th percentile.
Main Results:
- Incident short sleep duration (OR: 1.71) and persistent short sleep duration (OR: 4.07) were associated with significantly increased high cIMT risk compared to persistent normal sleep.
- Children with resolved short sleep duration showed no increased risk (OR: 1.08).
Conclusions:
- Developing or maintaining short sleep duration elevates children's risk of high cIMT.
- Resolving short sleep duration may mitigate this cardiovascular risk.
- Preventing and managing short sleep duration is crucial for pediatric cardiovascular health.
Background:
Short sleep duration is common in the pediatric population and is associated with an increased risk of high carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. However, little is known regarding whether changes in sleep duration status over time can alter the risk of high cIMT in children.
Objectives:
To examine the association between changes in sleep duration status and high cIMT in a cohort study of Chinese children.
Methods:
A total of 1115 children aged 6-11 years were enrolled in 2017 and then followed up in 2021 in the Huantai Childhood Cardiovascular Health Cohort Study. Children were categorized into four groups based on their sleep duration status (short vs. normal) at baseline and follow-up: persistent normal sleep duration, incident short sleep duration, resolved short sleep duration, and persistent short sleep duration. High cIMT was defined as cIMT levels ≥ age- and sex-specific 90th percentile values of this population.
Results:
Compared with children who maintained normal sleep duration, those with incident short sleep duration (odds ratio [OR]: 1.71, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-2.77) or persistent short sleep duration (OR: 4.07, 95 % CI: 2.10-7.89) had a significantly increased risk of high cIMT at follow-up. Conversely, children who had short sleep duration at baseline but normal sleep duration at follow-up did not have an increased risk of high cIMT (OR: 1.08, 95 % CI: 0.47-2.49).
Conclusion:
The development or persistence of short sleep duration is associated with an increased risk of high cIMT in children, whereas the resolution of short sleep duration may reduce such risk. These findings underscore the importance of preventing and managing short sleep duration to promote cardiovascular health in children.
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