The Price of Binge Watching: Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Sleep Quality

Fragmented sleep and lower sleeping time have a higher risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in multiple territories. These results highlight the importance of good sleeping habits for good health and against cardiovascular disease. This comes out when binge watching online series on TV or any mobile device has become the norm. Online “streaming” is silently stressing our arteries out.

The aim of this study was to assess the relation between sleep parameters and subclinical atherosclerosis in an asymptomatic middle age population. In addition, researchers looked at conventional risk factors, eating habits, etc.

Sleep patterns were assessed (actigraphic measure) during 7 days in 3974 participants (45.8 ± 4.3 years; 62.6% men) and four groups were defined: very short (< 6 hours), short (6 a 7 horas), reference duration (7 to 8 hours) and prolonged sleep (>8 hours).

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Carotid and femoral 3D vascular ultrasound was performed to assess Noncoronary atherosclerosis and coronary calcification.

After adjusting for conventional risk factors, very short sleep duration was associated with much higher atherosclerosis than reference duration sleep (OR: 1.27; CI 95%: 1.06 to 1.52; p=0.008). Participants with fragmented sleep also presented higher atherosclerosis burden in noncoronary territories.

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Coronary calcification was similar across all groups.

Conclusion

Short sleep and fragmented sleep are independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in multiple territories. Sleeping well should be included in the advice “pack” we give our patients.

Original title: Association of Sleep Duration and Quality with Subclinical Atherosclerosis.

Reference: Fernando Domínguez et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2019;73:134–44.

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