Poor sleep quality and insomnia are associated with increased blood pressure and vascular inflammation in women, according to a June 9 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
A large minority—about 28 percent of the U.S. population—reports less than six hours of sleep a night. Another 24 percent faces an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Women, the researchers noted, experience sleep disturbances largely due to fulfilling demands as caregivers and higher rates of insomnia-linked depression.
“While the adverse effects of severe sleep disturbances, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insufficient sleep, on metabolic and vascular health have recently been recognized in both men and women, the effects of highly prevalent, milder sleep disturbances, such as perceived poor sleep quality and insomnia on vascular health, are not well characterized in women, a population particularly vulnerable to these conditions,” wrote Brooke Aggarwal, EdD, MS, of the Columbia University Medical Center in New York, and colleagues.
The study cohort included 323 women. The researchers measured the cohort’s sleep duration, sleep quality and time to sleep onset—which was the population study. The team also assessed the risk for obstructive sleep apnea using a questionnaire. The researchers sought to measure the impact of prolonged mild sleep restriction on vascular endothelial function—which was the basic study.
In the population study sample, 50 percent had poor sleep quality compared to 23 percent in the basic study. Also, 37 percent had some level of insomnia versus 15 percent in the basic study.
The researchers found mild sleep disturbances—including quality, onset and insomnia—were nearly three times more common than severe sleep disturbances such as obstructive sleep apnea. Women who had mild sleep disturbances were also significantly more likely to have elevated blood pressure.
The researchers also extracted endothelial cells from 26 women from the study cohort and found an association between mild sleep issues and higher levels of protein in the cells.
“Our observations extend the relationship between sleep disorders and cardiovascular risk in women to include common but frequently neglected sleep disturbances,” Aggarwal et al. wrote. “Our findings may strengthen the rationale for systematically screening women for inadequate sleep in order to prevent adverse vascular outcomes in this population.”
As a senior news writer for TriMed, Subrata covers cardiology, clinical innovation and healthcare business. She has a master’s degree in communication management and 12 years of experience in journalism and public relations.