Association of Sleep Duration and Quality With Subclinical Atherosclerosis

Palmitate impairs circadian transcriptomics in muscle cells through histone modification of enhancers

Obesity and elevated circulating lipids may impair metabolism by disrupting the molecular circadian clock. We tested the hypothesis that lipid overload may interact with the circadian clock and alter the rhythmicity of gene expression through epigenomic mechanisms in skeletal muscle. Palmitate reprogrammed the circadian transcriptome in myotubes without altering the rhythmic mRNA expression of core clock genes. Genes with enhanced cycling in response to palmitate were associated with post-translational modification of histones. The cycling of histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac), a marker of active gene enhancers, was modified by palmitate treatment. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing confirmed that palmitate exposure altered the cycling of DNA regions associated with H3K27ac. The overlap between mRNA and DNA regions associated with H3K27ac and the pharmacological inhibition of histone acetyltransferases revealed novel cycling genes associated with lipid exposure of primary human myotubes. Palmitate exposure disrupts transcriptomic rhythmicity and modifies enhancers through changes in histone H3K27 acetylation in a circadian manner. Thus, histone acetylation is responsive to lipid overload and may redirect the circadian chromatin landscape, leading to the reprogramming of circadian genes and pathways involved in lipid biosynthesis in skeletal muscle.

Exploring the association between sleep insufficiency and self-reported cardiovascular disease among northeastern Greeks

Objective

To explore the association of sleep characteristics with cardiovascular disease (CVD) using self-reported questionnaires.

Material and Methods

957 adults between 19 and 86 years old were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The participants were classified into three groups [short (<6h), normal (6-8h), and long (>8h) sleepers] by using multistage stratified cluster sampling. CVD was defined by a positive response to the questions: "Have you been told by a doctor that you have had a heart attack or angina or stroke or have you undergone bypass surgery?". Sleep quality, utilizing Epworth sleepiness scale, Athens insomnia scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index and Berlin questionnaire, was also examined.

Results

Prevalence of CVD was 9.5%. Individuals with CVD exhibited reduced sleep duration by 33 min (p<0.001) and sleep efficiency by 10% (p<0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusting for subjects' sociodemographic, lifestyle habits and health related characteristics, short sleep duration was almost three times more frequent in patients with CVD (aOR=2.86, p<0.001 in the entire sample; aOR=2.68, p=0.019 in women and aOR=2.57, p=0.009 in men). Furthermore, CVD was significantly associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (aOR=2.02, p=0.026), insomnia (aOR=1.93, p=0.010), poor sleep quality (aOR=1.90, p=0.006) and increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (aOR=2.08, p=0.003).

Conclusion

Our study highlights a strong correlation of sleep insufficiency with CVD and promotes early pharmacological or cognitive behavioral interventions in order to protect cardiovascular health.

Sleep Apnea and Physical Movement During Sleep, But Not Sleep Duration, Are Independently Associated With Progression of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction: Prospective Hyogo Sleep Cardio-Autonomic Atherosclerosis Cohort Study

Background

Although co‐occurrence of sleep disorder with heart failure is known, it is not clear whether that condition is a cause or consequence of heart failure. The present study was conducted as a longitudinal examination of the predictive value of sleep parameters on progression of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Methods and Results

Four‐hundred fifty‐two subjects were followed for a mean of 34.7 months. An outcome of diastolic dysfunction was defined as increase in early inflow velocity/early diastolic tissue velocity >14. Sleep apnea‐hypopnea index, minimal oxygen saturation, sleep duration, and activity index (physical movement during sleep time, a potential parameter of poor sleep quality) were determined using apnomonitor and actigraphy findings, while heart rate variability was measured with a 24‐hour active tracer device. Sixty‐six of the patients developed diastolic dysfunction during the follow‐up period, with a median time of 25 months. Kaplan–Meier analysis results revealed that those with sleep apnea classified as moderate (apnea‐hypopnea index 15 to <30, P<0.01 versus none) or severe (apnea‐hypopnea index ≥30, P<0.01 versus none), and with a high activity index (Q3 or Q4, P<0.01 versus Q1), but not short sleep duration (P=0.27) had a significantly greater risk for a diastolic dysfunction event. Results of multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated that moderate to severe sleep apnea after a follow‐up period of 3 years (hazard ratio [HR], 9.26 [95% CI, 1.89–45.26], P<0.01) and high activity index (HR, 1.85 [95% CI, 1.01–3.39], P=0.04) were significantly and independently associated with future diastolic dysfunction. Moreover, significant association of high activity index with the outcome was not confounded by either minimal oxygen saturation or heart rate variability.

Conclusions

Sleep apnea and physical movement during sleep, but not sleep duration and autonomic nervous dysfunction, are independent important predictors for progression of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Sleep disturbance exacerbates the cardiac conduction abnormalities induced by persistent heavy ambient fine particulate matter pollution: A multi-center cross-sectional study

Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) exposure and sleep disturbance have been significantly associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, however, the combined effects of these two factors are still unclear. We conducted a multi-center cross-sectional study from November 2018 to May 2019 in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in China to investigate the potential modifying effects of sleep disturbance on associations between cardiac conduction abnormalities and PM_2.5 exposure, as well as the combined effects of sleep disturbance and heavy pollution episodes, which were defined based on the PM_2.5 mass concentration (≥75 μg/m³, falling in the 75th/90th percentile) and duration (1 day and ≥2 days). The sleep quality and sleep duration of all participants were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) test was performed to measure the heart rate (HR), QRS duration (time taken for ventricular depolarization), HR corrected QT interval (time for ventricular depolarization and repolarization) and PR interval (time for atrioventricular conduction). Multivariable linear regression models were performed to evaluate the associations of PM_2.5 and heavy pollution events on ECG parameters and the joint effects with sleep disturbance. We found PM_2.5 exposure was independently associated with prolonged QRS and QTc intervals. Association between PM_2.5 and the QTc interval was significantly stronger in participants with poor sleep quality. For each 10-μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 concentration, the QTc interval in the participants with poor sleep quality increased by 0.41 % (95 % confidence interval: 0.19, 0.64). In addition, heavy PM_2.5 pollution episodes, especially extremely heavy pollution of long duration, were found to have synergistic effects with sleep disturbance on ECG parameters. Our findings provide evidence that PM_2.5 exposure, especially heavy pollution episodes, may increase abnormal cardiac conduction and have a synergistic effect with sleep disturbance. Improving sleep hygiene is crucial to protect the heart health of the general population.

Effects of sleep deprivation on coronary heart disease

The presence of artificial light enables humans to be active 24 h a day. Many people across the globe live in a social culture that encourages staying up late to meet the demands of various activities, such as work and school. Sleep deprivation (SD) is a severe health problem in modern society. Meanwhile, as with cardiometabolic disease, there was an obvious tendency that coronary heart disease (CHD) to become a global epidemic chronic disease. Specifically, SD can significantly increase the morbidity and mortality of CHD. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the effects of SD on CHD are multilayered and complex. Inflammatory response, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and endothelial function all contribute to cardiovascular lesions. In this review, the effects of SD on CHD development are summarized, and SD-related pathogenesis of coronary artery lesions is discussed. In general, early assessment of SD played a vital role in preventing the harmful consequences of CHD.

Effects of Sleep Disorders and Circadian Rhythm Changes on Male Reproductive Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between sleep disorders and male reproductive health, and to explore the underlying mechanisms via a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane library, Web of Science, Scopus databases were searched to collect clinical research on the effects of sleep disorders on male semen parameters from inception to February 24, 2022. RevMan 5.4 was used for meta-statistical analysis. Stata16 software was used to detect publication bias.

Results: The results of meta-analysis showed that sleep disorders were associated with reduced total sperm count (mean difference (MD) = −27.91, 95% CI = (−37.82, −18.01), p < 0.001), reduced sperm concentration (MD = −5.16, 95% CI = (−9.67, −0.65), p = 0.02), reduced progressive motility (MD = −2.94, 95% CI = (−5.28, −0.59), p = 0.01), and reduced normal morphology (MD = −0.52, 95% CI = (−0.80, −0.24), p < 0.001). However, there is no significant association between sleep disorders and semen volume/reproductive hormones. Further bioinformatics mining revealed that related clock genes (PER1, PER2, CRY2, NR1D1 and NPAS2) were down-regulated in non-obstructive azoospermia patients.

Conclusion: In conclusion, current evidence suggests that sleep disorders have a negative impact on male reproductive health, and its underlying mechanism may be related to circadian rhythm disorders. However, the relationship between sleep disorders and reproductive hormone levels has not been found. Due to the limited number and quality of included studies, the above findings need to be validated by more high-quality studies.

Association between self-reported sleep characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors:

AbstractWe analyzed the association between self-reported sleep characteristics and the prevalence of major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors attending to the potential effect of physical activity (PA) and weight status. A large cohort of Spanish workers (n = 527,662; 32% female, 44 ± 9yrs) participated in this cross-sectional study. We assessed participants' self-reported indicators of sleep quantity (short [<6 h/d], normal [6-9 h/d] or long [>9 h/d]) and quality (unrestful or restful, and difficulties or not falling asleep) as well as the presence of major CVD risk factors (diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia); and categorized participants based on PA ('inactive', 'insufficiently active' or 'regularly active') and weight status (normal weight, overweight or obesity). Impairments in any sleep quantity or quality indicator, respectively, were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the prevalence of at least one CVD risk factor. Yet, being physically active and having normal weight markedly attenuated these associations. Thus, individuals with poor sleep quantity or quality but who were physically active and had normal weight showed no different risk of hypertension or diabetes than those with normal sleep characteristics, albeit the former still presented a higher risk of hypercholesterolemia if they reported short sleep (+5% vs. normal duration, p = 0.047), unrestful sleep (+9% vs. restful, p < 0.001) or having difficulties to fall asleep (+48% vs. no difficulties, p < 0.001). The present findings support the need for maintaining optimal PA levels and weight status in order to minimize the CVD risk associated with poor sleep quantity or quality.

Atherosclerosis: Recent developments

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the large arteries that is the major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke. Here, we review the current understanding of the molecular, cellular, genetic, and environmental contributions to atherosclerosis, from both individual pathway and systems perspectives. We place an emphasis on recent developments, some of which have yielded unexpected biology, including previously unknown heterogeneity of inflammatory and smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic lesions, roles for senescence and clonal hematopoiesis, and links to the gut microbiome.

Poor self-reported sleep is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease: A cross-sectional analysis in half a million adults

BACKGROUND

Sleep is known to affect cardiovascular health, but some controversy exists on the independent association between different sleep characteristics (duration, restfulness, difficulties falling asleep) and specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to assess the association between self-reported sleep characteristics and the likelihood of major CVD risk factors.

METHODS

Totally, 521,364 Spanish workers (32% female, 44 ± 9 years [18-64]) insured by an occupational risk prevention company participated in this nationwide cross-sectional study. Participants' sleep was considered 'poor' if they reported having ≥1 of the following conditions: excessively short (<6 h/d) or long (>9 h/d) sleep, unrestful sleep, or difficulties to fall asleep. We assessed the independent association between aforementioned sleep characteristics and the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, obesity and physical inactivity.

RESULTS

Poor sleep (reported by 33% of participants) was associated with a higher likelihood of presenting all CVD risk factors individually, particularly physical inactivity (which prevalence was ~3-fold higher in the poor sleep group compared with participants reporting no sleep abnormality). In separate analyses, all the different sleep characteristics were associated with the likelihood of ≥2 CVD risk factors. Participants with optimal sleep, normal sleep duration, no difficulties falling sleep and restful sleep showed a lower total CVD risk score than their peers with poor sleep, short sleep duration, difficulties falling sleep and unrestful sleep, respectively (all p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Poor sleep was associated with a higher likelihood of presenting major CVD risk factors. These findings might support the importance of monitoring and improving sleep patterns for primary CVD prevention.

Objectively-measured sleep patterns and cardiometabolic health in a rural South African setting: a cross sectional analysis

Background

To investigate the relationship between objectively-measured, free-living sleep patterns, and cardiometabolic health, in a rural South African health and demographic surveillance site.

Methods

Wrist-mounted actigraphy data was collected over nine days from 167 adults (≥ 40 years). Sleep patterns were constructed from tertiles of sleep quantity and quality parameters (TST: total sleep time, AC: activity counts during sleep) from valid minute-by-minute data. The reference category was Moderate TST/Low-to-Moderate AC. Self-reported data included behavioural, health and socio-demographic variables. Biological data included anthropometry, resting blood pressure and fasting blood glucose, insulin and lipids. Binary and ordinal logistic regression models were constructed to determine the association between TST and AC, the factors associated with sleeping patterns, and the association between sleeping patterns and Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). HOMA-IR and MetS were also examined across sleep patterns using analysis of variance models.

Results

A total of 139 adults (71.2% female) had a complete dataset. In unadjusted analyses, females had poorer sleep quality, were more physically active, and displayed poorer cardiometabolc health and greater adiposity than males (p ≤ 0.017). There were no sex differences in TST or sleep pattern distribution (p ≤ 0.901). Not being classified as Low TST/High AC or exposed to ≥ 1 bout of Low TST/High AC sleep was associated with lower physical activity, longer sleep duration, better sleep quality and lower IR (p ≤ 0.0452). In multivariate analyses, there was no association between TST and AC (p = 0.921), while increasing age and people-to-bedroom density, and lower physical activity where significantly associated with increasing TST (p ≤ 0.027). Participants classified as Low TST/High AC had significantly higher HOMA-IR, but not MetS, compared with Moderate TST/Low AC (p = 0.021). Being exposed to ≥ 1 bout of Low TST/High AC sleep was significantly associated with hypertension (OR = 2.31, 95%CI: 1.00, 5.34), but not for HOMA-IR or MetS (p ≥ 0.227).

Conclusions

Long sleep was not associated with increased sleep fragmentation. Short, fragmented sleep was associated with insulin resistance. Exposure to at least one bout of short, fragmented sleep increased the likelihood of hypertension. Further studies are required to identify the factors associated with short, fragmented sleep in this setting.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2022 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update. The 2022 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. This year's edition includes data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population and an enhanced focus on social determinants of health, adverse pregnancy outcomes, vascular contributions to brain health, and the global burden of cardiovascular disease and healthy life expectancy.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Cardiovascular risks and sociodemographic correlates of multidimensional sleep phenotypes in two samples of US adults

Study Objectives

Sleep is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular conditions. Holistic examination of within-person, multidimensional sleep patterns may offer more detailed information about the sleep-cardiovascular condition link, including who is more vulnerable to both. This study aimed to identify common sleep phenotypes in adulthood, establish the validity of the phenotypes in relation to cardiovascular conditions, and explore sociodemographic and background characteristics of the phenotypes.

Methods

Across two independent samples of adults (N ₁ = 4600; N ₂ = 2598) from the Midlife in the United States Study, latent class analysis (LCA) extracted sleep phenotypes using five key self-reported sleep dimensions. Log-binomial regression was used to determine whether sleep phenotypes differentially predicted cardiovascular conditions, adjusting for known risk factors. LCA with covariates was used to compare sociodemographic characteristics of the identified sleep phenotypes.

Results

Four sleep phenotypes were identified consistently across the two samples: good sleepers, nappers, dissatisfied/inefficient sleepers, and irregular sleepers. Compared to good sleepers (reference), dissatisfied/inefficient sleepers exhibited a higher risk of cardiovascular conditions in both samples (RR _Sample1: 29%, RR _Sample2: 53%) and consisted of relatively more racial/ethnic minorities. Nappers exhibited a higher risk of cardiovascular conditions in one sample (RR _Sample1: 38%) and consisted of more women and older adults. Irregular sleepers exhibited no significantly different cardiovascular risk and were relatively younger.

Conclusions

Common sleep phenotypes in adulthood exhibit differential risks for cardiovascular conditions. Cooccurring sleep dissatisfaction and inefficiency, in particular, may relate to increased risk of cardiovascular conditions. Certain sociodemographic groups (racial minorities, women, older adults) disproportionately fit within high-risk sleep phenotypes.

Characterizing sleep-wake patterns in mothers and children in an agrarian community: results from the Ghana Randomized Air Pollution and Health Study

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Several studies have examined sleep patterns in rural/indigenous communities, however little is known about sleep characteristics in women of reproductive age, and children within these populations. We investigate sleep-wake patterns in mothers and children (ages 3-5 years) leveraging data from the Ghana Randomized Air Pollution and Health Study (GRAPHS).

METHODS

The GRAPHS cohort comprises of rural/agrarian communities in Ghana and collected multiday actigraphy in a subset of women and children to assess objective sleep-wake patterns. Data were scored using the Cole-Kripke and Sadeh algorithms for mothers/children. We report descriptive, baseline characteristics and objective sleep measures, compared by access to electricity/poverty status.

RESULTS

We analyzed data for 58 mothers (mean age 33 ± 6.6) and 64 children (mean age 4 ± 0.4). For mothers, mean bedtime was 9:40 pm ± 56 min, risetime 5:46 am ± 40 min, and total sleep time (TST) was 6.3 h ± 46 min. For children, median bedtime was 8:07 pm (interquartile range [IQR]: 7:50,8:43), risetime 6:09 am (IQR: 5:50,6:37), and mean 24-h TST 10.44 h ± 78 min. Children with access to electricity had a reduced TST compared to those without electricity (p = 0.02). Mean bedtime was later for both mothers (p = 0.05) and children (p = 0.08) classified as poor.

CONCLUSIONS

Mothers in our cohort demonstrated a shorter TST, and earlier bed/risetimes compared to adults in postindustrialized nations. In contrast, children had a higher TST compared to children in postindustrialized nations, also with earlier sleep-onset and offset times. Investigating objective sleep-wake patterns in rural/indigenous communities can highlight important differences in sleep health related to sex, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, and help estimate the impact of industrialization on sleep in developed countries.

Men's Sleep Quality and Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcomes in Couples Referred to a Fertility Clinic: A Chinese Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Poor sleep quality has been linked to lower semen quality, but it is unclear whether this result in decreased fertility. To address this question, we retrospectively evaluated the relationship between men's sleep quality and treatment outcomes in subfertile couples receiving assisted reproductive technology (ART).

PATIENT ENROLLMENT AND METHODS

From September 2017 to November 2019, 282 subfertile couples referred to a Chinese fertility clinic and eligible for ART procedures were enrolled in our study. Sociodemographic characteristics, life habits, and sleep habits in the year prior to ART were recorded. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). We first divided the patients into two groups based on sleep quality (good sleep: PSQI < 5 and poor sleep: PSQI ≥ 5). Then, the ART outcomes (fertilization rate, good quality embryo rate, implantation rate, positive pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate, miscarriage rate, and birth weight) of each group were analyzed. Finally, multivariate linear and logistic regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between sleep quality (discrete variable or dichotomous variable) and ART outcomes.

RESULTS

The participants in the poor sleep group showed a lower fertilization rate of 60.13% (543/903) when compared with 67.36% for the good sleep group (902/1339), P < 0.001. The global PSQI score had a significant influence on birth weight (β, -63.81; 95% CI, -119.91- -8.52; P = 0.047), and live birth rate (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78- 0.99; P = 0.047) after adjusting for the interfering factors. Men's sleep quality was unrelated to good quality embryos rate, implantation rate, positive pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, or miscarriage rate.

CONCLUSION

Men's sleep quality was positively associated with fertilization rate, birth weight, and live birth rate among couples undergoing ART.

The Dynamic Interplay of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors for Cardiovascular Health

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The recent rise in cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths in the USA has sparked interest in identifying and implementing effective strategies to reverse this trend. Healthy lifestyle behaviors (i.e., healthy diet, regular physical activity, achieve and maintain a healthy weight, avoid tobacco exposure, good quality sleep, avoiding and managing stress) are the cornerstone for CVD prevention.

RECENT FINDINGS

Achieving all of these behaviors significantly benefits heart health; however, even small changes lower CVD risk. Moreover, there is interplay among healthy lifestyle behaviors where changing one may result in concomitant changes in another behavior. In contrast, the presence of one or more unhealthy lifestyle behaviors may attenuate changing another lifestyle behavior(s) (poor diet, inadequate physical activity, overweight/obesity, poor sleep quality, tobacco exposure, and poor stress management). It is important to assess all of these lifestyle behaviors with patients to plan an intervention program that is best positioned for adherence.

The Association Between Insomnia and Atherosclerosis: A Brief Report

AIM

The objective of the study was to clarify the occurrence of atherosclerosis in patients with insomnia.

METHODS

A total of 60 patients with insomnia and 58 patients in a control group were selected to measure blood glucose, blood lipids and other biochemical and physiological indicators. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured to assess arterial stiffness, and color Doppler ultrasound was used to examine carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and plaque incidence. These indicators were used to determine the occurrence and degree of carotid atherosclerosis, and to compare the differences between the two groups.

RESULTS

While there was no significant difference in biochemical or physiological indicators between the two groups (P > 0.05), the baPWV, CIMT, and incidence of carotid plaque in the insomnia group were higher than the control group. In addition, the baPWV, CIMT, and incidence of carotid plaque in the chronic insomnia group were higher than that in the short-term insomnia group. Multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to analyze the effects of insomnia, systolic blood pressure, blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, BMI, age and low-density lipoprotein on atherosclerosis. The results showed that increased CIMT was significantly correlated with insomnia in atherosclerosis group (R²=0.27 on the left, R²=0.37 on the right, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Insomnia correlated with increased arterial stiffness and carotid atherosclerosis, and as the duration of insomnia prolongs, the correlation between them became more obvious.

Basal Cortisol Levels Are Increased in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Role of Insomnia and Short Sleep Duration

BACKGROUND

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is frequent in elderly and a risk factor for dementia. Both insomnia and increased cortisol levels are risk factors for MCI.

OBJECTIVE

We examined cross-sectionally whether increased cortisol levels are associated with short sleep duration (SSD) and/or the insomnia short sleep duration (ISS) phenotype, in elderly with MCI.

METHODS

One hundred twenty-four participants with MCI and 84 cognitively non-impaired controls (CNI)≥60 years underwent medical history, physical examination, neuropsychiatric evaluation, neuropsychological testing, 3-day actigraphy, assessment of subjective insomnia symptoms, and a single morning plasma cortisol level. The short sleep phenotypes were defined by sleep efficiency below the median of the entire sample (i.e.,≤81%) with at least one insomnia symptom (ISS) or without (SSD). ANOVA models were used to compare the various sleep phenotypes to those who did not present either short sleep or insomnia symptoms [non-insomnia (NI)].

RESULTS

MCI participants had higher cortisol levels compared to the CNI group (p = 0.009). MCI participants with insomnia (n = 44) or SSD (n = 38) had higher cortisol levels compared to the NI group (n = 42; p = 0.014 and p = 0.045, respectively). Furthermore, MCI participants with ISS phenotype but not those with insomnia with normal sleep duration had higher cortisol levels compared to NI (p = 0.011 and p = 0.4, respectively). Both linear trend analyses showed that cortisol reached the highest levels in the ISS phenotype.

CONCLUSION

The ISS and SSD phenotypes are associated with increased cortisol levels in elderly with MCI. Improving sleep quality and duration and decreasing cortisol levels may delay further cognitive decline.

Association Between the Anti-Aging Protein Klotho and Sleep Duration in General Population

Purpose

Sleep duration is associated with aging. However, the relationship between sleep duration and the concentration of the protein klotho in the serum remains unknown in the general population of the United States. Hence, this study aimed at exploring the association between them.

Methods

Participants whose data included klotho protein and sleep duration variables in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2007 to 2016 were utilized for this analysis.

Results

Sleep duration was non-linearly associated with the level of klotho protein in the serum, with a negative association between sleep duration and serum klotho concentration after adjusting for confounding variables (β = −7.6; 95% CI: −11.3, −4.0; P < 0.001). The conversion of the sleep duration from a continuous variable to a categorical variable (tertile: T1: <5.5 hours; T2: 5.5–7.5 hours; T3: >7.5 hours) revealed that the serum klotho of the participants in the highest tertile (>7.5 hours) was 21.9 pg/mL lower (95% CI: −38.6, −5.2; P = 0.01) than those in the lowest tertile (<5.5 hours).

Conclusion

Our results revealed that people who sleep more than 7.5 hours per night have decreased levels of the anti-aging protein klotho in their serum, thus being more at risk of aging-related syndromes.

Selection of 51 predictors from 13,782 candidate multimodal features using machine learning improves coronary artery disease prediction

Current cardiovascular risk assessment tools use a small number of predictors. Here, we study how machine learning might: (1) enable principled selection from a large multimodal set of candidate variables and (2) improve prediction of incident coronary artery disease (CAD) events. An elastic net-based Cox model (ML4HEN-COX) trained and evaluated in 173,274 UK Biobank participants selected 51 predictors from 13,782 candidates. Beyond most traditional risk factors, ML4HEN-COX selected a polygenic score, waist circumference, socioeconomic deprivation, and several hematologic indices. A more than 30-fold gradient in 10-year risk estimates was noted across ML4HEN-COX quintiles, ranging from 0.25% to 7.8%. ML4HEN-COX improved discrimination of incident CAD (C-statistic = 0.796) compared with the Framingham risk score, pooled cohort equations, and QRISK3 (range 0.754-0.761). This approach to variable selection and model assessment is readily generalizable to a broad range of complex datasets and disease endpoints.

Sleep and cardiovascular outcomes in relation to nocturnal hypertension: the J-HOP Nocturnal Blood Pressure Study

There is a lack of data on how nighttime blood pressure (BP) might modify the relationship between sleep duration and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Self-reported sleep duration data were available for 2253/2562 patients from the J-HOP Nocturnal BP study; of these, 2236 had complete follow-up data (mean age 63.0 years, 83% using antihypertensive drugs). CVD outcomes included stroke, coronary artery disease (CAD), and atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD [stroke + CAD]). Associations between sleep duration and nighttime home BP (measured using a validated, automatic, oscillometric device) were determined. During a mean follow-up of 7.1 ± 3.8 years, there were 133 ASCVD events (52 strokes and 81 CAD events). Short sleep duration (<6 versus ≥6 and <9 h/night) was significantly associated with the risk of ASCVD (hazard ratio [HR] 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-3.22), especially stroke (HR 2.47, 95% CI 1.08-5.63). When nighttime systolic BP was <120 mmHg, those with a sleep duration <6 versus ≥6 and <9 h/night had a significantly higher risk of ASCVD and CAD events (HR [95% CI] 3.46 [1.52-7.92] and 3.24 [1.21-8.69], respectively). Even patients with "optimal" sleep duration (≥6 and <9 h/night) were at significantly higher risk of stroke when nighttime systolic BP was uncontrolled (HR [95% CI] 2.76 [1.26-6.04]). Adding sleep duration and nighttime BP to a base model with standard CVD risk factors significantly improved model performance for stroke (C-statistic 0.795, 95% CI 0.737-0.856; p = 0.038). These findings highlight the importance of both optimal sleep duration and control of nocturnal hypertension for reducing the risk of CVD, especially stroke. Clinical Trial registration: URL: http://www.umin.ac.jp/icdr/index.html . Unique identifier: UMIN000000894.

Sleep-disordered breathing is independently associated with elevated natriuretic peptide levels in patients with cardiovascular diseases

Sleep disorders and sleep duration have attracted considerable attention as potential modifiable risk factors for the development and progression of heart failure (HF). However, whether these sleep behaviors could aggravate the underlying cardiac condition remains ambiguous. We evaluated the associations between the levels of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), sleep quality and quantity, or daytime sleepiness in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) patients. A total of 1717 consecutive patients with CVD [median age, 66 years (55-74 years); female, 27.5%] were enrolled. SDB was screened by nocturnal pulse oximetry; sleep quality and quantity were determined by Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, and daytime sleepiness was examined by Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The median plasma BNP level was 54.9 pg/ml (23.5-146.4 pg/ml). Multiple regression analyses showed that the BNP level in the highest quintile (BNP > 181.8 pg/ml) was associated with SDB (severe: OR, 5.88; 95% CI 3.17-10.88; moderate: OR, 3.62; 95% CI 2.17-6.02; mild: OR, 2.22: 95% CI 1.42-3.47). There were no significant associations between other sleep parameters and higher BNP levels. The relationship between SDB and BNP levels was unchanged regardless of the previous history of symptomatic HF. SDB was independently associated with the elevated plasma BNP level in patients with a variety of CVD.

Sleeping Disorders in Healthy Individuals with Different Dietary Patterns and BMI, Questionnaire Assessment

The COVID-19 pandemic and abiding restrictions have affected every life domain. Sleep disturbances are a major health issue that is linked with a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome, obesity, and psychological burdens. Research of sleeping disorders among vegetarian and non-vegetarian subpopulations is limited. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of sleeping disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic among people with different dietary patterns. Using a web-based cross-sectional survey, data were collected from 1987 people. A total of 1956 respondents met all study conditions. The questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic information, assessment of dietary habits, and assessment of the prevalence of insomnia and sleepiness, based on the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). A total of 36.04% (n = 705) respondents declared that they noticed a change in the quality of their sleep during the last year. According to AIS and ESS, non-vegetarians suffered from insomnia or sleepiness more often than vegetarians. Insomnia and sleepiness were also more prevalent among those respondents who declared consumption of fruit and vegetables less often than once a day compared with those who consumed fruit and vegetables daily. Respondents with BMI within the recommended limit (18.5–24.99) suffered from insomnia less often when compared with underweight (BMI < 18.5) or obese (BMI ≥ 25) respondents. Those results may be useful for public health workers and medical professionals in terms of establishing new instruments that help treat sleeping disorders.

Proteinuria is independently associated with carotid atherosclerosis: a multicentric study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Atherosclerosis is a vital cause of cardiovascular diseases. The correlation between proteinuria and atherosclerosis, however, has not been confirmed. This study aimed to assess whether there is a relationship between proteinuria and atherosclerosis.

METHODS

From January 2016 to September 2020, 13,545 asymptomatic subjects from four centres in southern China underwent dipstick proteinuria testing and carotid atherosclerosis examination. Data on demography and past medical history were collected, and laboratory examinations were performed. The samples consisted of 7405 subjects (4875 males and 2530 females), excluding subjects failing to reach predefined standards and containing enough information. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to adjust the influence of traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis on the results.

RESULTS

Compared with proteinuria-negative subjects, proteinuria-positive subjects had a higher prevalence rate of carotid atherosclerosis. The differences were statistically significant (22.6% vs. 26.7%, χ² = 10.03, p = 0.002). After adjusting for common risk factors for atherosclerosis, age, sex, BMI, blood lipids, blood pressure, renal function, hypertensive disease, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia, proteinuria was an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis (OR = 1.191, 95% CI 1.015-1.398, p = 0.033). The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to test the risk prediction model of atherosclerosis, and the results showed that the model has high goodness of fit and strong independent variable prediction ability.

CONCLUSIONS

Proteinuria is independently related to carotid atherosclerosis. With the increase in proteinuria level, the risk of carotid atherosclerotic plaque increases. For patients with positive proteinuria, further examination of atherosclerosis should not be ignored.

Role of sleep deprivation in immune-related disease risk and outcomes

Modern societies are experiencing an increasing trend of reduced sleep duration, with nocturnal sleeping time below the recommended ranges for health. Epidemiological and laboratory studies have demonstrated detrimental effects of sleep deprivation on health. Sleep exerts an immune-supportive function, promoting host defense against infection and inflammatory insults. Sleep deprivation has been associated with alterations of innate and adaptive immune parameters, leading to a chronic inflammatory state and an increased risk for infectious/inflammatory pathologies, including cardiometabolic, neoplastic, autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we review recent advancements on the immune responses to sleep deprivation as evidenced by experimental and epidemiological studies, the pathophysiology, and the role for the sleep deprivation-induced immune changes in increasing the risk for chronic diseases. Gaps in knowledge and methodological pitfalls still remain. Further understanding of the causal relationship between sleep deprivation and immune deregulation would help to identify individuals at risk for disease and to prevent adverse health outcomes.

The Interaction Between Self-Reported Sleep Duration and Physical Activity on Peripheral Artery Disease in Chinese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in the Tianning Cohort Study

Purpose

Sleep duration was associated with large artery atherosclerosis, but its association with atherosclerosis in lower extremity arteries was not well studied. Together with sleep, physical activity constitutes main component of our daily life and influences sleep. Here, we aimed to examine the independent and joint associations of sleep duration and physical activity with peripheral artery disease (PAD) in Chinese adults.

Patients and Methods

In Tianning cohort, night-time sleep duration and physical activity were assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively, for 5130 participants (51.0±15.6 years, 58.7% female). PAD was defined as ankle-brachial index (ABI) <0.9. General linear, and logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of sleep duration and physical activity with PAD. The biological interaction between sleep duration and physical activity on PAD was examined using additive model.

Results

Compared to participants sleeping 6-8.9 h, those sleeping ≥9 h had a 0.02 lower ABI (β=-0.02, P=0.007) and 38% higher odds of PAD (OR=1.38, P=0.035). Compared to physically active participants sleeping 6-8.9 h, among ≥9 h group, physically inactive individuals had significantly increased odds of PAD (OR=2.40, P<0.001), whereas physically active individuals did not (OR=1.15, P=0.472). On additive scale, attributable proportion due to interaction (0.40, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.73) indicated a significant interaction between sleep duration and physical activity on PAD.

Conclusion

Being physically active may attenuate the detrimental association between prolonged sleep duration and PAD. Moreover, we found a significant interaction between prolonged sleep duration and physical inactivity in the prevalence of PAD.

Negative Influence of Insufficient Sleep on Endothelial Vasodilator and Fibrinolytic Function in Hypertensive Adults

[Figure: see text].

Nuclear Receptors and Clock Components in Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are still the first cause of death worldwide. Their main origin is the development of atherosclerotic plaque, which consists in the accumulation of lipids and inflammatory leucocytes within the vascular wall of large vessels. Beyond dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, hypertension and smoking, the alteration of circadian rhythms, in shift workers for instance, has recently been recognized as an additional risk factor. Accordingly, targeting a pro-atherogenic pathway at the right time window, namely chronotherapy, has proven its efficiency in reducing plaque progression without affecting healthy tissues in mice, thus providing the rationale of such an approach to treat CVD and to reduce drug side effects. Nuclear receptors are transcriptional factors involved in the control of many physiological processes. Among them, Rev-erbs and RORs control metabolic homeostasis, inflammatory processes and the biological clock. In this review, we discuss the opportunity to dampen atherosclerosis progression by targeting such ligand-activated core clock components in a (chrono-)therapeutic approach in order to treat CVD.

Contemporary Lifestyle and Neutrophil Extracellular Traps: An Emerging Link in Atherosclerosis Disease

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are networks of extracellular genetic material decorated with proteins of nuclear, granular and cytosolic origin that activated neutrophils expel under pathogenic inflammatory conditions. NETs are part of the host's innate immune defense system against invading pathogens. Interestingly, these extracellular structures can also be released in response to sterile inflammatory stimuli (e.g., shear stress, lipidic molecules, pro-thrombotic factors, aggregated platelets, or pro-inflammatory cytokines), as in atherosclerosis disease. Indeed, NETs have been identified in the intimal surface of diseased arteries under cardiovascular disease conditions, where they sustain inflammation via NET-mediated cell-adhesion mechanisms and promote cellular dysfunction and tissue damage via NET-associated cytotoxicity. This review will focus on (1) the active role of neutrophils and NETs as underestimated players of the inflammatory process during atherogenesis and lesion progression; (2) how these extracellular structures communicate with the main cell types present in the atherosclerotic lesion in the arterial wall; and (3) how these neutrophil effector functions interplay with lifestyle-derived risk factors such as an unbalanced diet, physical inactivity, smoking or lack of sleep quality, which represent major elements in the development of cardiovascular disease.

Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis (PESA) Study: JACC Focus Seminar 7/8

Atherosclerosis starts early in life and progresses silently for decades. Considering atherosclerosis as a "systemic disease" invites the use of noninvasive methodologies to detect disease in various regions before symptoms appear. The PESA-(Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis) CNIC-SANTANDER study is an ongoing prospective cohort study examining imaging, biological, and behavioral parameters associated with the presence and progression of early subclinical atherosclerosis. Between 2010 and 2014, PESA enrolled 4,184 asymptomatic middle-aged participants who undergo serial 3-yearly follow-up examinations including clinical interviews, lifestyle questionnaires, sampling, and noninvasive imaging assessment of multiterritorial subclinical atherosclerosis (carotids, iliofemorals, aorta, and coronaries). PESA tracks the trajectories of atherosclerosis and associated disorders from early stages to the transition to symptomatic phases. A joint venture between the CNIC and the Santander Bank, PESA is expected to run until at least 2029, and its significant contributions to date are presented in this review paper.

Cardiopulmonary coupling-derived sleep quality is associated with improvements in blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea at high-cardiovascular risk

OBJECTIVE

Investigate if changes in objective sleep quality index (SQI) assessed through cardiopulmonary-coupling analysis impacts blood pressure (BP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea at high-cardiovascular risk.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of ECG and pulse-oximetry-[oxygen saturation (SpO2)] data from the Heart Biomarker Evaluation in Apnea Treatment study, multicenter, controlled trial in patients with cardiovascular disease and moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea, randomly assigned to intervention of healthy lifestyle and sleep hygiene education (HLSE; control group), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or nocturnal supplemental oxygen (NSO). Participants with good-quality ECG-signal and SpO2-signal (n = 241) were included.

RESULTS

CPAP-therapy significantly improved BP, with net average improvement in mean arterial blood pressure during sleep (MAP) when compared with nocturnal supplemental oxygen-therapy or healthy lifestyle and sleep education-therapy, -3.92 (P = 0.012) and -3.83 (P = 0.016), respectively. When stratified on the basis of baseline-SQI, CPAP-therapy improves 24-h MAP -3.02 (P = 0.030) and MAP -5.00 (P = 0.001), in patients with compromised baseline-SQI (SQI < 55). Stratifying the cohort based on changes in SQI during the study period (SQI-SQI), controlling for sex, age over 60, apnea-hypopnea index, SpO2 less than 80%, baseline BP and cardiovascular disease, significant differences are observed comparing the groups that Improved-SQI (SQI < 55, SQI ≥ 55) and Declined-SQI (SQI ≥ 55, SQI < 55) in MAP -4.87 (P = 0.046) and mean diastolic blood pressure (MDP) -4.42 (P = 0.026) as well as MAP -6.36 (P = 0.015), mean systolic blood pressure wake (MSP) -7.80 (P = 0.048) and MDP -5.64 (P = 0.009), respectively. Improved SQI reflects the magnitude of positive effect on BP which is reached mostly through initiation of CPAP-therapy.

CONCLUSION

Cardiopulmonary coupling-derived sleep quality impacted 24-h MAP and MDP, as well as BP during wake, in patients participating in the Heart Biomarker Evaluation in Apnea Treatment-study.

Can improvements in sleep quality positively affect serum adiponectin-levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea?

BACKGROUND

Assess if changes in sleep quality (Sleep Quality Index, SQI) based on cardiopulmonary coupling-analysis (CPC) impacts serum adiponectin-levels in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

METHODS

Secondary analysis of electrocardiogram (ECG) data from the Heart Biomarker Evaluation in Apnea Treatment study (HeartBEAT), a multicenter, controlled trial in patients with CVD and moderate-severe sleep apnea, randomly assigned to intervention of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Nocturnal Supplemental Oxygen (NSO) or Healthy Lifestyle and Sleep Hygiene Education (HLSE; control group). Participants with good-quality ECG-signal (n = 241) were included.

RESULTS

Improving CPC-sleep quality was associated with net average improvements in serum adiponectin-levels 2.69 μg/ml (p = 0.005) irrespective of therapy initiated. After controlling for confounders, a unit increase in SQI was associated with increase in serum adiponectin-levels 0.071 μg/ml (p = 0.012) and decrease in insulin-levels 0.197 μIU/ml (p = 0.0018). Similarly, a percentage point increase in sleep apnea indicator (SAI) was associated with decrease in serum adiponectin-levels of 0.071 μg/ml (p = 0.017) and increase in insulin-levels of 0.218 μIU/ml (p = 0.020). A percentage point increase in CPC-sleep fragmentation (eLFC_BB) had a predicted increase in glucose-levels 0.371 mg/dl (p = 0.009) and insulin-levels 0.284 μIU/ml (p = 0.010). In patients receiving CPAP-therapy, a difference in serum adiponictin levels of 3.82 μg/ml (p = 0.025) is observed comparing patients in which SQI-improved to patients that SQI-declined during the study period. The difference is mostly due to a decrease in serum adiponectin levels in patients that decline in SQI (-3.20 μg/ml).

CONCLUSION

Improvements in sleep quality were associated with higher serum adiponectin-levels, and improved measures of glycemic metabolism which may have beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular health.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NAME AND NUMBER

The Heart Biomarker Evaluation in Apnea Treatment (HeartBEAT) study is registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01086800.

Sleep duration and vascular inflammation using hybrid positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging: results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Short sleep duration (SD) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the relationship between objective SD and subclinical atherosclerosis employing hybrid PET/MRI with ¹⁸F-FDG tracer in the MESA cohort.

METHODS

We utilized data from MESA-SLEEP and MESA-PET ancillary studies. SD and sleep fragmentation index (SFI) were assessed using 7-day actigraphy. The primary and secondary outcomes were carotid inflammation, defined using target-to-background ratios (TBR), and measures of carotid wall remodeling (carotid wall thickness [CWT]), summarized by SD category. Multivariate linear regression was performed to assess the association between SD and SFI with the primary/secondary outcomes, adjusting for several covariates including apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and CVD risk.

RESULTS

Our analytical sample (n=58) was 62% female (mean age 68±8.4 years). Average SD was 5.1±0.9 hours in the short SD group (≤6 hours/night, 31%), and 7.1±0.8 hours in the normal SD group (69%). Prevalence of pathologic vascular inflammation (TBRmax>1.6) was higher in the short SD group (89% vs. 53%, p=0.009). Those with short SD had a higher TBRmax (1.77 vs 1.71), though this was not statistically significant (p=0.39). CWT was positively correlated with SFI even after adjusting for covariates (Beta [SE]=0.073±[0.032], p=0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of pathologic vascular inflammation was higher among those who slept ≤6 hours, and vascular inflammation was higher among those with a SD of ≤6 hours. Interestingly, SFI was positively correlated with CWT even after adjustment for covariates. Our results are hypothesis-generating but suggest that both habitual SD and SFI should be investigated in future studies as potential risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis.

Sleep Fragmentation and Atherosclerosis: is There a Relationship?

Sleep fragmentation refers to the disruption of sleep architecture with poor quality of sleep despite optimal duration of sleep. Sleep fragmentation has been shown to have multiple effects on different body systems. This article reviews the effect of sleep fragmentation on the rate of atherosclerosis which has been linked to comorbidities like myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary artery disease with an aim to educate patients regarding the importance of sleep hygiene and to incorporate a good amount and quality of sleep as life style modification along with diet and exercise.

Efficacy and safety of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates (lower-sodium oxybate [LXB]; JZP-258) in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized withdrawal study in adults with narcolepsy with cataplexy

Study Objectives

Evaluate efficacy and safety of lower-sodium oxybate (LXB), a novel oxybate medication with 92% less sodium than sodium oxybate (SXB).

Methods

Adults aged 18–70 years with narcolepsy with cataplexy were eligible. The study included a ≤30-day screening period; a 12-week, open-label, optimized treatment and titration period to transition to LXB from previous medications for the treatment of cataplexy; a 2-week stable-dose period (SDP); a 2-week, double-blind, randomized withdrawal period (DBRWP); and a 2-week safety follow-up. During DBRWP, participants were randomized 1:1 to placebo or to continue LXB treatment.

Results

Efficacy was assessed in 134 participants who received randomized treatment, and safety was assessed in all enrolled participants (N = 201). Statistically significant worsening of symptoms was observed in participants randomized to placebo, with median (first quartile [Q1], third quartile [Q3]) change in weekly number of cataplexy attacks from SDP to DBRWP (primary efficacy endpoint) in the placebo group of 2.35 (0.00, 11.61) versus 0.00 (−0.49, 1.75) in the LXB group (p < 0.0001; mean [standard deviation, SD] change: 11.46 [24.751] vs 0.12 [5.772]), and median (Q1, Q3) change in Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (key secondary efficacy endpoint) of 2.0 (0.0, 5.0) in the placebo group versus 0.0 (−1.0, 1.0) in the LXB group (p < 0.0001; mean [SD] change: 3.0 [4.68] vs 0.0 [2.90]). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events with LXB were headache (20.4%), nausea (12.9%), and dizziness (10.4%).

Conclusions

Efficacy of LXB for the treatment of cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness was demonstrated. The safety profile of LXB was consistent with SXB.

Clinical trial registration

NCT03030599.

Gender differences in nighttime sleep patterns and variability across the adult lifespan: a global-scale wearables study

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Previous research on sleep patterns across the lifespan have largely been limited to self-report measures and constrained to certain geographic regions. Using a global sleep dataset of in situ observations from wearable activity trackers, we examine how sleep duration, timing, misalignment, and variability develop with age and vary by gender and BMI for nonshift workers.

METHODS

We analyze 11.14 million nights from 69,650 adult nonshift workers aged 19-67 from 47 countries. We use mixed effects models to examine age-related trends in naturalistic sleep patterns and assess gender and BMI differences in these trends while controlling for user and country-level variation.

RESULTS

Our results confirm that sleep duration decreases, the prevalence of nighttime awakenings increases, while sleep onset and offset advance to become earlier with age. Although men tend to sleep less than women across the lifespan, nighttime awakenings are more prevalent for women, with the greatest disparity found from early to middle adulthood, a life stage associated with child-rearing. Sleep onset and duration variability are nearly fixed across the lifespan with higher values on weekends than weekdays. Sleep offset variability declines relatively rapidly through early adulthood until age 35-39, then plateaus on weekdays, but continues to decrease on weekends. The weekend-weekday contrast in sleep patterns changes as people age with small to negligible differences between genders.

CONCLUSIONS

A massive dataset generated by pervasive consumer wearable devices confirms age-related changes in sleep and affirms that there are both persistent and life-stage dependent differences in sleep patterns between genders.

Relationships of sleep traits with lung cancer risk: a prospective cohort study in UK Biobank

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To prospectively investigate the association between sleep traits and lung cancer risk, accounting for the interactions with genetic predisposition of lung cancer.

METHODS

We included 469,691 individuals free of lung cancer at recruitment from UK Biobank, measuring sleep behaviors with a standardized questionnaire and identifying incident lung cancer cases through linkage to national cancer and death registries. We estimated multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for lung cancer (2,177 incident cases) across four sleep traits (sleep duration, chronotype, insomnia and snoring), and examined the interaction and joint effects with a lung cancer polygenic risk score.

RESULTS

A U-shaped association was observed for sleep duration and lung cancer risk, with a 18% higher risk (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-1.30) for short sleepers and a 17% higher risk (95%CI: 1.02-1.34) for long sleepers compared with normal sleepers (7-8 h/day). Evening preference was associated with elevated lung cancer risk compared with morning preference (HR: 1.25; 95%CI: 1.07-1.46), but no association was found for insomnia or snoring. Compared to participants with favorable sleep traits and low genetic risk, those with both unfavorable sleep duration (<7 hours or >8 hours) or evening preference and high genetic risk showed the greatest lung cancer risk (HRsleep duration: 1.83; 95%CI: 1.47-2.27; HRchronotype: 1.85; 95%CI: 1.34-2.56).

CONCLUSIONS

Both unfavorable sleep duration and evening chronotype were associated with increased lung cancer incidence, especially for those with low to moderate genetic risk. These results indicate that sleep behaviors as modifiable risk factors may have potential implications for lung cancer risk.

Disturbed sleep quality and architecture in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: Relation to glycemic control, vascular complications and insulin sensitivity

BACKGROUND

Insufficient sleep duration and poor sleep quality have been linked to insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism. However, the relation between sleep disruption and type1 diabetes (T1D) hasn't been thoroughly explored.

AIM

To study the association between sleep parameters and glycemic control, insulin resistance and micro-vascular complications among adolescent with T1D.

METHODOLOGY

Sixty adolescents with T1D were compared to 60 matched controls. Diabetes-duration, insulin-therapy, fundus, Epworth Sleepiness Scale-Child Adolescent and the neuropathy disability score were assessed. Fasting lipids, fraction-C of glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c) and urinary albumin-excretion were measured with calculation of the insulin sensitivity score(ISS). Overnight polysomnography(PSG) was done.

RESULTS

Adolescents with T1D had significantly lower sleep efficiency and rapid eye movement(REM) sleep than controls with significantly higher sleep onset latency, non-REM sleep and arousal index(P < 0.001). Although ISS was negatively correlated to total sleep time(P = 0.002); it was positively correlated to sleep efficiency(P < 0.001). HbA1C was negatively correlated to sleep efficiency(<0.001) and REM sleep(P = 0.003) and positively correlated to sleep onset latency(P = 0.005). T1D adolescents with micro-vascular complications had significantly lower sleep efficiency and REM sleep than those without micro-vascular complications.

CONCLUSION

Poor sleep quality and architecture among adolescents with T1D are associated with impaired glycemic control, insulin resistance and micro-vascular complications.

Smoke at night and sleep worse? The associations between cigarette smoking with insomnia severity and sleep duration

OBJECTIVE

Insomnia is a clinically verified nicotine withdrawal symptom. As nicotine is a stimulant, it is plausible that smoking at night could disturb sleep more than smoking at earlier times of the day, but this remains empirically unclear. This study examined smoking status and its associations with insomnia severity and sleep duration while considering the potential role of smoking time.

METHODS

Data were derived from the Sleep and Healthy Activity Diet Environment and Socialization study, a community-based study of 1007 adults (nnonsmokers = 818; nsmokers = 189) aged 22-60 from the Philadelphia area. Smoking status and time of smoking were self-reported. Insomnia was assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index and categorized as none, mild, and moderate-to-severe. Sleep duration was assessed with one item from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and categorized as very short, short, normal, and long. Ordinal and multinomial logistic regressions were used to determine the association of smoking status including smoking time with insomnia severity and sleep duration controlling for sociodemographic covariates.

RESULTS

Compared to nonsmoking, smoking was associated with experiencing increased insomnia (odds ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9, 3.4, P < .001) as well as very short (relative risk ratio = 1.9, 95% CI 1.1, 3.3) and short (relative risk ratio = 1.5, 95% CI 1.0, 2.3) sleep (vs normal sleep duration). Night-time smoking was significantly associated with greater insomnia and shorter sleep duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings provide evidence that smoking is associated with increased insomnia severity and shorter sleep duration, particularly nightly smoking. Sleep health should be considered in smoking cessation efforts.

Global Cardiovascular Risk Profile of Italian Medical Students Assessed by a QR Code Survey. Data from UNIMI HEART SURVEY: Does Studying Medicine Hurt?

Background: Few studies to date have addressed global cardiovascular (CV) risk profile in a “protected” young population as that of medical school students. Objective: to assess CV traditional risk factors and global CV risk profile of Italian medical students throughout the six years of university. Methods: A cross-sectional survey accessible online via quick response (QR) code was conducted among 2700 medical students at the University of Milan, Italy. Data on baseline characteristics, traditional CV risk factors, diet, lifestyle habits, and perceived lifestyle variations were evaluated across different years of school. Results: Overall, 1183 students (mean age, 22.05 years; 729 women (61.6%)) out of 2700 completed the questionnaire (43.8% rate response). More than 16% of the students had at least 3 out of 12 CV risk factors and only 4.6% had ideal cardiovascular health as defined by the American Heart Association. Overweight, underweight, physical inactivity, sub-optimal diet, smoke history, and elevated stress were commonly reported. Awareness of own blood pressure and lipid profile increased over the academic years as well as the number of high-blood-pressure subjects, alcohol abusers, and students constantly stressed for university reasons. Moreover, a reduction in physical-activity levels over the years was reported by half of the students. Conclusion and Relevance: This study demonstrates that a “protected” population as that of young medical students can show an unsatisfactory cardiovascular risk profile and suggests that medical school itself, being demanding and stressful, may have a role in worsening of the lifestyle.

Challenges in ischaemic heart disease: not sleeping enough, not brushing your teeth, and skipping breakfast-three ways of increasing your risk of myocardial infarction?

Despite optimal medical therapies, there is currently a persistent residual cardiovascular risk. The most likely pathway responsible for this residual risk has been identified in the inflammatory state. Recent studies have confirmed that inflammation increases cardiovascular risk independently from LDL cholesterol levels. Addressing traditional risk factors, such as obesity, cigarette smoking, diabetes, arterial hypertension, and dyslipidaemia, also provides an important reduction of the levels of inflammation. Nonetheless, inflammation is also a target for specific and focused therapeutic interventions. Recent studies have outlined an association between oral hygiene, sleep deprivation, and nutritional patterns on the one hand, with the development of multi-districts atherosclerosis and/or adverse cardiovascular events on the other. These lifestyle patterns appear to be involved in fostering inflammation associated with atherosclerosis. There is, however, a persistent need for further studies to clarify whether such associations with cardiovascular disease are direct and causal, and if they are all channelled through vascular inflammation.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2021 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update. The 2021 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. This year's edition includes data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, an enhanced focus on social determinants of health, adverse pregnancy outcomes, vascular contributions to brain health, the global burden of cardiovascular disease, and further evidence-based approaches to changing behaviors related to cardiovascular disease.

RESULTS

Each of the 27 chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policy makers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Effects of sleep deprivation on endothelial function in adult humans: a systematic review

Sleep deprivation is highly prevalent and is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Age-related alterations in sleep and chronobiology may exaggerate CVD susceptibility in older individuals. The mechanisms responsible for the association between sleep deprivation and CVD are not fully understood, but endothelial dysfunction may play a central role. Our objective was to conduct a systematic literature review to evaluate the evidence on the effects of sleep deprivation on endothelial function (EF). This review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and was pre-registered with PROSPERO (#CRD42020192485, 07/24/2020). We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library for articles published through May 1, 2020. Eligibility criteria included publication in English and use of well-established EF methodologies in adult humans. Two investigators independently performed the literature search, study selection, data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment, and qualitative data synthesis. Out of 3571 articles identified, 24 articles were included in the systematic review. Main findings include the following: (1) shorter sleep duration is associated with lower macrovascular EF; (2) not sleeping 7-9 h/night is linked with impaired microvascular EF; (3) sleep restriction impairs micro- and macrovascular EF; (4) acute total sleep deprivation impairs micro- and macrovascular EF but data on macrovascular EF are less consistent; and (5) shift work impairs macrovascular EF. In conclusion, sleep deprivation impairs EF, which may explain the link between insufficient sleep and CVD. Future investigations should fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms and develop strategies to combat the adverse endothelial effects of sleep deprivation across the lifespan.

Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network: Summary of Findings and Network Outcomes

The Go Red for Women movement was initiated by the American Heart Association (AHA) in the early 2000s to raise awareness concerning cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in women. In 2016, the AHA funded 5 research centers across the United States to advance our knowledge of the risks and presentation of CVD that are specific to women. This report highlights the findings of the centers, showing how insufficient sleep, sedentariness, and pregnancy-related complications may increase CVD risk in women, as well as presentation and factors associated with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in women. These projects were augmented by collaborative ancillary studies assessing the relationships between various lifestyle behaviors, including nightly fasting duration, mindfulness, and behavioral and anthropometric risk factors and CVD risk, as well as metabolomic profiling of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in women. The Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network enhanced the evidence base related to heart disease in women, promoting awareness of the female-specific factors that influence CVD.

Association of apnea-hypopnea index during rapid eye movement sleep with insulin resistance in patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea: a cross-sectional study

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with insulin resistance. However, the association between special stages of OSA [rapid eye movement (REM) sleep] and insulin resistance is not clear. This study was designed to assess the association of the frequency of respiratory events during REM sleep with insulin resistance in adults with suspected OSA.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 4,062 adult participants with suspected OSA who underwent polysomnography in our sleep center between 2009 and 2016 were screened. Polysomnographic variables, biochemical indicators, and physical measurements were collected. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for insulin resistance as assessed by the presence of hyperinsulinemia, the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, the fasting insulin resistance index (FIRI), and Bennett’s insulin sensitivity index (ISI).

Results

The final analyses included 2,899 adults with suspected OSA. Multivariate adjustments, including the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) during non-REM sleep (AHI_NREM), were performed. The AHI during REM sleep (AHI_REM) was found to be independently associated with insulin resistance across increasing AHI_REM quartiles. For hyperinsulinemia the ORs (95% CIs) followed the order of 1.340 (1.022, 1.757), 1.210 (0.882, 1.660), and 1.632 (1.103, 2.416). For abnormal HOMA-IR, ORs (95% CIs) were 1.287 (0.998, 1.661), 1.263 (0.933, 1.711), and 1.556 (1.056, 2.293). For abnormal FIRI, ORs (95% CIs) were 1.386 (1.048, 1.835), 1.317 (0.954, 1.818), and 1.888 (1.269, 2.807). For abnormal Bennett’s ISI, ORs (95% CIs) were 1.297 (1.003, 1.678), 1.287 (0.949, 1.747), and 1.663 (1.127, 2.452). All linear trends were statistically significant (P<0.01). Additionally, the results showed that REM sleep duration was independently associated with hyperinsulinemia (OR =0.777, 95% CI: 0.615–0.982; P<0.05).

Conclusions

AHI_REM was independently associated with hyperinsulinemia and an abnormal HOMA-IR, FIRI, and Bennett’s ISI in adults with suspected OSA. Additionally, REM sleep duration was independently associated with hyperinsulinemia.

Robust and sensitive peptidomics workflow for plasma based on specific extraction, lipid removal, capillary LC setup and multinozzle ESI emitter

We present a new workflow for the LC-MS determination of native peptides in plasma at picomolar levels. Collected whole blood was quickly diluted with an ice-cold solution in order to stop protease activity. Diluted plasma samples were extracted by protein denaturation followed by solid-phase-extraction with a polymeric stationary phase that removed most proteins and lipids. Using a specific LC-MS setup with 3 pumps, 240 μL of extracts were injected without drying-reconstitution, a step known to cause peptide losses. After an 18-fold dilution on-line, peptides were trapped on a 1 × 10 mm C8 column, back-flushed and resolved on a 0.3 × 100 mm C18 column. Extract reproducibility, robustness (column clogging), extraction yields, matrix effects, calibration curves and limits of detection were evaluated with plasma extracts and spiked-in standards. The sensitivity and applicability of 3 electrospray sources were evaluated at capillary flow rates (10 μL/min). We show that ionization sources must have a spray angle with the MS orifice when "real" extracts are injected and that a multinozzle emitter can improve very significantly peptide detection. Finally, using our workflow, we have performed a peptidomics study on dried-blood-spots collected over 65 h in a healthy volunteer and discovered 5 fragments (2.9-3.8 KDa) of the protein statherin showing circadian oscillations. This is the first time that statherin is observed in blood where its role clearly deserves further investigations. Our peptidomic protocol shows low picomolar limits of detection and can be readily applied with or without minor modifications for most peptide determinations in various biomatrices.

Senescence research from historical theory to future clinical application

Historically, the findings from cellular lifespan studies have greatly affected aging research. The discovery of replicative senescence by Hayflick developed into research on telomeres and telomerase, while stress-induced senescence became known as a telomere-independent event. Senescence-inducing signals comprise several tumor suppressors or cell cycle inhibitors, e.g., p53, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16 Ink4a and others. Stress-induced senescence serves as a physiological barrier to oncogenesis in vivo, while it activates senescence-associated secretary phenotype, inducing chronic inflammation. Thus, beside telomere length, p16, p53 and inflammatory cytokines have been utilized as biomarkers for cellular senescence. Telomere lengths in human leukocytes correlate well with events of aging-related lifestyle diseases, indicating the importance of cellular senescence in organismal aging. As such, the development of senescence research will have significant future clinical applications, e.g., senolysis. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 125-130.