Irregular sleep patterns closely related to hypertension among patients with sleep apnea: Study

In a recent study published in the journal of Sleep found the intricate relationship between sleep regularity, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and hypertension. This research was conducted on 602 adults from the Raine Study and explored the connections among these critical health markers.

Utilizing the in-laboratory polysomnography, Kelly Sansom and team identified individuals with OSA with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of ≥15 events per hour. Hypertension was diagnosed through doctor assessments or elevated blood pressure readings. Sleep regularity was gauged using wrist actigraphy over a span of at least 5 days and a sleep regularity index (SRI) was established.

The participants were then categorized into tertiles based on their sleep regularity ranging as severely irregular, mildly irregular or regular sleepers. When compared to those with regular sleep patterns, the individuals with mildly irregular sleep had almost twice the odds of OSA (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.20-3.27), while those with severely irregular sleep had even higher odds (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.25–3.42).

The most intriguing finding of this study was in the relationship between OSA, sleep regularity, and hypertension. The participants with OSA and severely irregular sleep exhibited the highest odds of hypertension (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.07-5.12; p for interaction=0.02) by emphasizing a potential synergy between these factors. Those with OSA and regular/mildly irregular sleep did not show an increased risk of hypertension (p for interaction=0.20).

The sleep irregularity could be an important modifiable target for hypertension among the individuals with OSA. This finding opens path for personalized interventions by highlighting the importance of addressing sleep patterns along the traditional approaches for managing sleep apnea and hypertension.

Source:

Sansom, K., Reynolds, A., Windred, D., Phillips, A., Dhaliwal, S. S., Walsh, J., Maddison, K., Singh, B., Eastwood, P., & McArdle, N. (2024). The interrelationships between sleep regularity, obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension in a middle-aged community population. Sleep. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsae001