Accelerometer-Measured Sleep Duration and Clinical Cardiovascular Risk Factor Scores in Older Women

Abstract

Background Evidence suggests that short and long sleep durations are potential lifestyle factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Research on sleep duration and CVD risk is limited by use of self-report sleep measures, homogeneous populations, and studies on individual CVD risk factors. For women, risk of CVD and inadequate sleep duration increases with age. We hypothesized that accelerometer-measured sleep duration was associated with 10-year predicted probability of future CVD risk in a cohort of aging women. Methods This cross-sectional analysis included 3,367 older women (mean age 78.9 years; 53.3% White), from the Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health Study, ancillary study to the Women’s Health Initiative. Women wore ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers on the hip for 24 hours/7 days. A 10-year predicted probability of future CVD risk, the Reynolds Risk Score (RRS), was computed using age, systolic blood pressure, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), total and HDL cholesterol, diabetes mellitus status, smoking status, and family history of CVD. Average nightly sleep duration was derived from accelerometer data. Adjusted linear regression models investigated the association between sleep duration and RRS. Results Results suggested a U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and RRS, with both short and long sleep associated with higher RRS (p < .001). The association remained significant after adjustments for race/ethnicity, education, lifestyle factors, and health status indicators. Conclusion In older women, actigraphy-ascertained sleep duration was associated with a 10-year predicted probability of future CVD risk. This study supports sleep duration as a modifiable risk factor for CVD in older women.

Shared brain and genetic architectures between mental health and physical activity

“…Despite its close relationships with both mental health and physical activity, sleep has been largely overlooked in the literature for physical activity in relation to mental health. Currently, sleep duration can be accurately measured with ecological sampling approaches such as wrist-worn accelerometers, which have been adopted in medical and mental health research [30,31]. At the neural network level, sleep deprivation has been linked to a reduction in functional connectivity within the DMN [32][33][34], whereas increased sleep duration has been linked to strengthened connectivity within the DMN but reduced connectivity between DMN and SN [35].…”

Shared brain and genetic architectures between mental health and physical activity

“…Additionally, although sleep might not be considered a type of physical activity for its inactive nature, it is closely connected to mental health such that sleep problems have been considered as a risk factor for subsequent development of depressive symptoms 37,38 , and disrupted sleep is often seen in patients with various types of mood and anxiety disorders [39][40][41] . Sleep duration can be accurately measured with ecological sampling approaches such as wrist-worn accelerometers, which have been adopted in medical and mental health research 42,43 .…”

“…Although sleep has been largely overlooked in the literature for physical activity in relation to mental health, we included it in the current study for its close relationships with both mental health and physical activity. Sleep duration can be accurately measured with ecological sampling approaches such as wrist-worn accelerometers, which have been adopted in medical and mental health research 30,31 . At the neural network level, sleep deprivation has been linked to reduction in functional connectivity within the DMN [32][33][34] , whereas increased sleep duration has been linked to strengthened connectivity within the DMN but reduced connectivity between DMN and SN 35 .…”

“…Additionally, although sleep might not be considered a type of physical activity for its inactive nature, it is closely connected to mental health such that sleep problems have been considered as a risk factor for subsequent development of depressive symptoms 37,38 , and disrupted sleep is often seen in patients with various types of mood and anxiety disorders 39–41 . Sleep duration can be accurately measured with ecological sampling approaches such as wrist-worn accelerometers, which have been adopted in medical and mental health research 42,43 . At the neural network level, sleep deprivation has been linked to reduction in functional connectivity within the DMN 44–46 , whereas increased sleep duration has been linked to strengthened connectivity within the DMN but reduced connectivity between DMN and SN 47 .…”

Independent and joint effects of sleep duration and sleep quality on suboptimal self-rated health in medical students: A cross-sectional study

“…There were few and inconsistent reports on how sleep duration affects health outcomes in young individuals who do not yet have chronic diseases. Some studies suggested a U -shaped association between sleep duration and suboptimal SRH ( 13 ), and others suggested that only short sleep is associated with suboptimal SRH ( 14 ). To the best of our knowledge, previous studies have not controlled for confounding effect of circadian rhythm-related factors such as chronotype, daytime napping, snacking after dinner.…”