In a new study from the University of South Florida, researchers found individual aspects of poor sleep can be detrimental to heart health. But if you combine them, the risk of heart disease can increase by as much as 141%.
In the study, the team reviewed sleep data of 6,820 U.S. adults with an average age of 53 who self-reported their sleep and heart disease history.
Among the participants, 633 also wore a research device (actigraphy) around their wrist that captured sleep activity.
Researchers found that each additional increase in self-reported sleep health problems was associated with a 54% increased risk of heart disease.
The estimated risk of heart disease associated with an increase in sleep health problems was much higher for those who provided sleep data by both self-report and the research device.
They had a 141% increase—a figure that could be perceived to be more accurate.
These findings show the importance of assessing ‘co-existing sleep health problems’ within an individual to capture the risk of heart disease.
This is one of the first studies showing that among well-functioning adults in midlife, having more sleep health problems may increase the risk of heart disease.
The higher estimated risk in those who provided both self-report and actigraphy sleep data suggests that measuring sleep health accurately and comprehensively is important to increase the prediction of heart disease.
Researchers also found that while women reported having more sleep health problems, men were more likely to suffer heart disease—yet gender did not impact the overall correlation between the two factors.
The team says while sleep health is important for all ages, the team focused on middle adulthood as it spans for a longer period of time and consists of diverse and more stressful life experiences due to work and family roles.
This is also when precursors for heart disease and age-related sleep issues begin to arise.
Since sleep health can be modified, researchers say these findings can contribute to future prevention strategies to mitigate the risk of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
If you care about sleep quality, please read studies that widely used painkillers may harm your heart, kidneys, sleep and bodyweight, and how to deal with “COVID-somnia” and sleep well at night.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about common snack that could cause heart rhythm disease, high blood pressure, and results showing scientists find a new way to repair human heart.
The study is published in Scientific Reports and was conducted by Soomi Lee et al.
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