Relationship between sleep-disordered breathing and central systolic blood pressure in a community-based population: the Toon Health Study

Subjective sleep score is associated with central and peripheral blood pressure values in children aged 7-12 years

Shortened and poor-quality sleep have emerged as non-traditional risk factors for the development of hypertension in adults, and it is likely these relations extend to paediatric populations when evaluating sleep subjectively. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate subjective sleep metrics and their associations with central and peripheral blood pressure (BP) values in children. We hypothesized that poor-quality sleep and short sleep duration would be associated with elevated pressures in healthy children. Subjective sleep habits and sleep duration were evaluated using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) in 29 children aged 7-12 years (13 male/16 female). A total sleep score was generated by summing subscale scores: a higher score indicates poorer sleep habits. Peripheral BP was measured, and central pressures were estimated using pulse wave analysis. Pearson's r correlations were used to assess relations between total sleep score, sleep duration, and sleep score subscales with BP values. Sleep score was positively associated with central and peripheral systolic pressure (r = 0.43, p = 0.02 and r = 0.41, p = 0.03, respectively), diastolic pressure (r = 0.42, p = 0.02 and r = 0.36, p = 0.05, respectively) and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.40, p = 0.03 and r = 0.36, p = 0.03, respectively). Sleep duration was negatively associated with central and peripheral diastolic pressure (r = -0.40, p = 0.03 and r = -0.41, p = 0.03, respectively). Regarding the CSHQ subscales, daytime sleepiness and parasomnias were consistently positively associated with BP values. These findings support sleep as a primordial prevention target for hypertension and the maintenance of cardiovascular health during childhood. Consideration of a variety of sleep habits using tools such as the CSHQ may provide important insights into early-life cardiovascular risk.

Association of sleep-disordered breathing and alcohol consumption with hypertension among Japanese male bus drivers

There is limited evidence regarding the combined effects of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and alcohol consumption on hypertension. The aim of this study was to examine the combined effects of SDB and alcohol consumption on hypertension in Japanese male bus drivers. This cross-sectional study included 2525 Japanese male bus drivers aged 20-65 years. SDB was assessed using a single-channel airflow monitor, which measured the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) during overnight sleep at home. Alcohol consumption (g/day) was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire and calculated per unit of body weight. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg and/or use of antihypertensive medications. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association of the combined categories of RDI and alcohol consumption with hypertension. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of hypertension for the alcohol consumption ≥1.0 g/day/kg and RDI ≥ 20 events/h group were 2.41 (1.45-4.00) compared with the alcohol consumption <1.0 g/day/kg and RDI < 10 events/h group. Our results suggest that Japanese male bus drivers with both SDB and excessive alcohol consumption are at higher risk of hypertension than those without SDB and excessive alcohol consumption, highlighting the importance of simultaneous management of SDB and excessive alcohol consumption to prevent the development of hypertension among bus drivers.