Portability of Polygenic Risk Scores for Sleep Duration, Insomnia and Chronotype in 33,493 Individuals

Associations of a multidimensional polygenic sleep health score and a sleep lifestyle index on health outcomes and their interaction in a clinical biobank

Sleep is a complex behavior regulated by genetic and environmental factors, and is known to influence health outcomes. However, the effect of multidimensional sleep encompassing several sleep dimensions on diseases has yet to be fully elucidated. Using the Mass General Brigham Biobank, we aimed to examine the association of multidimensional sleep with health outcomes and investigate whether sleep behaviors modulate genetic predisposition to unfavorable sleep on mental health outcomes. First, we generated a Polygenic Sleep Health Score using previously identified single nucleotide polymorphisms for sleep health and constructed a Sleep Lifestyle Index using data from self-reported sleep questions and electronic health records; second, we performed phenome-wide association analyses between these indexes and clinical phenotypes; and third, we analyzed the interaction between the indexes on prevalent mental health outcomes. Fifteen thousand eight hundred and eighty-four participants were included in the analysis (mean age 54.4; 58.6% female). The Polygenic Sleep Health Score was associated with the Sleep Lifestyle Index (β=0.050, 95%CI=0.032, 0.068) and with 114 disease outcomes spanning 12 disease groups, including obesity, sleep, and substance use disease outcomes (p<3.3×10-5). The Sleep Lifestyle Index was associated with 458 disease outcomes spanning 17 groups, including sleep, mood, and anxiety disease outcomes (p<5.1×10-5). No interactions were found between the indexes on prevalent mental health outcomes. These findings suggest that favorable sleep behaviors and genetic predisposition to healthy sleep may independently be protective of disease outcomes. This work provides novel insights into the role of multidimensional sleep on population health and highlights the need to develop prevention strategies focused on healthy sleep habits.

Associations of chronotype and insomnia with menstrual problems in newly employed nurses at university hospitals in the Republic of Korea

Background

Dysmenorrhea and menstrual cycle changes occur in women working shifts. Circadian rhythm disruption and sleep disturbances associated with shift work leads to health problems. We identified chronotypes and the occurrence of insomnia among newly employed university hospital nurses and investigated the association of these factors with menstrual problems.

Methods

We conducted pre-placement health examinations for shift workers using self-reported questionnaires between 2018 and 2020. A total of 463 nurses were included in the study. Sociodemographic data, shift work experience, and information on insomnia were collected from health examination data. In addition, details regarding chronotype, dysmenorrhea, irregular and abnormal menstrual cycles, amenorrhea, and contraceptive use were obtained from the questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to study the association between chronotype, insomnia, and menstrual problems after controlling for age, body mass index, contraceptive use, amenorrhea, and prior shift work.

Results

The prevalence rates of dysmenorrhea, irregular menstrual cycles, and longer menstrual cycles were 23.8%, 14.9%, and 4.1%, respectively. The risk of dysmenorrhea increased in the evening-type (odds ratio [OR]: 3.209; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.685-6.113) and those with insomnia (OR: 1.871; 95% CI: 1.074-3.261). Additionally, the risk of an irregular menstrual cycle (OR: 2.698; 95% CI: 1.167-6.237) increased in the evening-type, and the risk of a longer menstrual cycle (OR: 4.008; 95% CI: 1.354-11.864) increased in individuals with insomnia.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that dysmenorrhea is promoted in the evening-type and insomnia individuals. There may be an increased risk of irregular menstrual cycles among evening-type nurses and an increased risk of longer menstrual cycles among those with insomnia. Therefore, factors such as evening-type and insomnia should be considered for the prevention of menstrual problems in women performing shift work.