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Variability in Sleep Patterns: an Emerging Risk Factor for Hypertension

  • Sleep and Hypertension (S. Justin Thomas, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

In this review, we summarize recent epidemiological data (2014–2019) that examine the association of sleep variability with blood pressure (BP), discuss potential underlying mechanisms, and highlight future research directions.

Recent Findings

Higher standard deviations of sleep duration and sleep-onset timing were not related to BP. However, a higher Sleep Regularity Index score was associated with lower odds of hypertension. Studies on social jetlag, a prevalent form of sleep variability, reported null associations. In contrast, lower interdaily stability in circadian rest-activity rhythms, a measure of invariability in sleep-wake cycles between days and synchronization to light and dark cycles, was associated with higher BP and greater hypertension odds, particularly among non-shift workers.

Summary

Sleep variability is consistently associated with risk factors for hypertension. Evidence on sleep variability and BP is limited and varies depending on the measure used to characterize day-to-day variability in sleep. Studies that identify and utilize a standard definition of sleep variability, incorporate a 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring, and ensure coinciding timing of sleep and BP measurements are necessary to disentangle these relationships.

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Funding

Dr. St-Onge is funded by NIH Grants R01HL128226 and R01HL142648 and an AHA Go Red for Women Grant 16SFRN27950012. Dr. Makarem is supported by a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence grant from NHLBI (Grant # 1 K99 HL148511–01). Dr. Zuraikat is supported by NIH Grant T32HL007343. Dr. Aggarwal is funded by an AHA Go Red for Women Grant 16SFRN27960011. Dr. Jelic is funded through NIH grants R01HL106041 and R01HL137234 as well as by an AHA Go Red for Women Grant 16SFRN29050000.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Sleep Center of Excellence, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 51 Audubon Avenue, 5th floor, 500-H, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Nour Makarem

  2. Department of Medicine, Sleep Center of Excellence, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 1150 Saint Nicholas Avenue, Suite 121, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Faris M. Zuraikat

  3. Department of Medicine, Sleep Center of Excellence, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 51 Audubon Avenue, Suite 505, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Brooke Aggarwal

  4. Department of Medicine, Sleep Center of Excellence, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630West 168th Street, Room 512, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Sanja Jelic

  5. Department of Medicine, Sleep Center of Excellence, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 21 Audubon, SB-0132, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Marie-Pierre St-Onge

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  1. Nour Makarem
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Correspondence to Nour Makarem or Marie-Pierre St-Onge.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Sleep and Hypertension

Dr. Zuraikat serves as co-first author with Dr. Makarem

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Makarem, N., Zuraikat, F.M., Aggarwal, B. et al. Variability in Sleep Patterns: an Emerging Risk Factor for Hypertension. Curr Hypertens Rep 22, 19 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-020-1025-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-020-1025-9

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