Examining demographic, work, and sleep characteristics among older South Asian American yellow taxi drivers in New York City: A brief report

Sleep disparities in Asian Americans: a comprehensive review

STUDY OBJECTIVES

This review summarizes race-based sleep health disparities between Asian Americans and other American racial groups and compares sleep outcomes between Asian American subgroups disaggregated by ethnicity and ancestral national origin. The study identifies gaps in the existing literature, analyzes barriers to studying Asian American sleep, and recommends topics for future research.

METHODS

A PubMed review of research on adult Asian American sleep was conducted. The articles included utilized actigraphy, polysomnography, and questionnaires to gather sleep health metrics. Information from these articles included data on sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep disturbances, and sleep disorders.

RESULTS

Most aggregated studies find Asian American adults experiencing lower sleep duration and poorer sleep quality compared to non-Hispanic White Americans and comparable or slightly higher sleep duration compared to Black Americans. Within Asian Americans, first-generation immigrants report better sleep quality than subsequent generations. East Asian Americans may experience better sleep outcomes compared to Southeast Asian Americans. Obstructive sleep apnea is critically underreported in South Asian Americans.

CONCLUSIONS

Significantly more research is required in Asian American sleep disparities, specifically in South and Southeast Asian Americans. Sleep disparities between Asian Americans and other racial groups are impacted by perceived discrimination, poor mental health, and cultural attitudes toward sleep. The observed within-group disparities of Asian American sleep may be attributed to socioeconomic status and generational status/acculturation. Existing barriers to research include the model minority myth and lack of disaggregated racial sleep data.

CITATION

Nandagiri V, Vannemreddy S, Spector A. Sleep disparities in Asian Americans: a comprehensive review. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(2):393-402.

Cardiovascular diseases and sleep disorders in South Asians: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

South Asians comprise 20% of the world population. There is a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among South Asians, and sleep disorders may be a key risk factor.

OBJECTIVE

The review examined literature about cardiovascular and sleep disorders in South Asian countries and in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the Netherlands.

METHODS

Methods from Arksey and O'Malley's framework and Peter et al. were used to synthesize findings from 23 research studies.

RESULTS

The studies addressed sleep disorders with hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, and obesity. Obstructive sleep apnea and short sleep duration were common and associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality at early ages in South Asians. Researchers analyzed polysomnography-derived sleep measures, vascular functions, polymorphisms, C-reactive protein levels, public knowledge about cardiovascular health, and sleep-related questionnaire scores. Most studies were conducted in major metropolitan areas; no data were available about people living in locations with limited health care resources. Among migrant South Asians, researchers did not explore the role of acculturation on sleep patterns and cardiovascular outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The review highlights important considerations for researchers who plan to investigate cardiovascular conditions in South Asian communities. There is a need for more knowledge about sleep-related risk factors, and researchers should also examine cultural, political, and socioeconomic factors that affect health care access. This knowledge will be imperative for designing effective and tailored disease prevention strategies for South Asian populations.