Latency, sleep hours, and blood pressure in hospitalized patients in Mexico

Multiple studies have associated sleep duration and quality with changes in blood pressure in the general population, considering it a related risk factor. However, there is limited information regarding hospitalized patients who tend to experience sleep disturbances.

o examine the relationship between subjective sleep duration, sleep latency, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hospitalized patients.

A cross-sectional study included 381 Mexican adults hospitalized in a secondary-level hospital in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Self-reported sleep duration and latency were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index component. Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected. The study was approved by an ethics committee.

In adjusted models, a significant negative association was found between subjective sleep hours and diastolic blood pressure (β= -0.59; 95% CI: -1.80 to -0.10). A significant positive relationship was observed between sleep latency and systolic blood pressure (β= 1.48; 95% CI: -0.49 to 2.47).

The findings are consistent with those of previous studies. Hospitalization can impact sleep due to unfamiliar environments, noise, irregular schedules, and invasive procedures, affecting patients' health and prognosis.

It is essential to consider sleep as a modifiable factor in preventing and managing hypertension in hospitalized patients and to find effective interventions to improve sleep duration and quality.