Increasing prevalence of sleep disorders may increase CVD burden in future

The study's results, published in the Iranian Journal of Psychiatry, showed high prevalence and increasing sleep disorder trends in the past five years. If not addressed, the community's cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden will significantly increase in the future due to sleep disorders and the associated risk factors.

Sleep disorders are conditions that lead to changes in the way of sleeping. A sleep disorder can affect safety, quality of life, and overall health. Not getting desired sleep can impact the ability to drive safely and raises the risk of other health problems. Some common sleep disorders are sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome.

The study was a single-stage, cross-sectional, cluster sampling ((KERCADR study phase two) study that examined nine CAD risk factors, including sleep disorders. The study comprising 9997 participants, 15 to 80 years old, was carried out in Kerman. Abdolreza Sabahi, Kerman Universit of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, and colleagues assessed medical examination along with demographic, sleep status, anxiety, depression status (Beck Inventories), and Physical activity level (GPAQ). A fasting blood sample was taken for lipid and blood glucose analysis. Out of 9997 included participants, 59.4% were females.

The authors reported the following findings:

• 45.3% of the participants suffered from hypersomnia and insomnia, which was 15% more than the phase 1 prevalence.
• Participants with insomnia had a higher chance of being anxious. Still, participants with hypersomnia had a higher chance of being depressed, being a cigarette smoker, an opium user, and being sedentary.
• Regarding marital status, the hypersomnia prevalence was as follows in increasing order of prevalence: singles > married > widowed > divorced.
• The incidence rate (IR) of insomnia was higher in females, and a higher IR of hypersomnia were seen in males.
• The incidence rate of both sleep disorders was more significant in people with Low Physical Activity (LPA).

"The findings showed a high current prevalence and increasing sleep disorders trend in the past five years," the authors wrote. "If not addressed properly, the CVDs burden in the community will show a significant increase in the future due to sleep disorders and other associated risk factors."

Reference:

Najafipour H, Sabahi A, khoramipour kayvan, Shojaei Shahrokhabad M, Banivaheb G, Shadkam M, Mirzazadeh A. Prevalence, Incidence and Health Impacts of Sleep Disorders on Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors: Results of a Community-Based Cohort Study (KERCADRS). Iran J Psychiatry. 2022;17(3):247-256.