Gender-specific associations between sleep stages and cardiovascular risk factors

Tâmara P. Taporoski, Felipe Beijamini, Shaina J. Alexandria, David A. Aaby, Jose Eduardo Krieger, Malcolm von Schantz, Alexandre C. Pereira, Kristen L. Knutson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Study Objectives
Sleep characteristics are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and both sleep and CVD risk vary by gender. Our objective was to examine associations between polysomnographic sleep characteristics and CVD risk after excluding moderate-severe sleep apnea, and whether gender modifies these associations.

Methods
This was a cross-sectional study with at-home polysomnography in adults in Brazil (n= 1,102 participants with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)<15 events/hour). Primary exposures were N3, REM, wake after sleep onset (WASO), arousal index (AI) and AHI, and outcomes were blood pressure (BP) and lipid levels.

Results
Associations between sleep and BP varied by gender. In women, more N3 was associated with lower systolic BP (-0.40 mmHg per 10 minutes, 95%CI -0.71, -0.09), lower diastolic BP (-0.29 mmHg per 10 minutes, 95%CI -0.50, -0.07), and lower odds of hypertension (OR 0.94, 95%CI 0.89, 0.98). In men, more WASO was associated with higher systolic BP (0.41 mmHg per 10 minutes, 95%CI 0.08, 0.74) and higher odds of hypertension (OR 1.07, 95%CI 1.01, 1.14). No interactions by gender were observed for lipids. More WASO was associated with lower total cholesterol (-0.71 per 10 minutes, 95%CI -1.37, -0.05). Higher AHI was associated with higher total cholesterol (+0.97 per event/hour, 95%CI 0.24, 1.70) and higher LDL (+0.84 per event/hour, 95%CI 0.04, 1.64).

Conclusions
N3 is more strongly associated with BP in women, which is consistent with other studies demonstrating gender differences in BP control and CVD risk and adds a novel risk factor. Longitudinal and interventional studies are required to determine whether changes in N3 result in BP changes.
Original languageEnglish
JournalSleep
Early online date19 Oct 2024
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 19 Oct 2024

Keywords

  • Polysomnography
  • Sleep Architecture
  • Epidemiology
  • Hemodynamics
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • triglycerides

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