Poor Quality Sleep may Increase Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke

A prospective study published in the Europeen Heart Journal has found an association between poor sleep behaviours and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.

The study’s 385 292 participants were scored on their sleep quality and followed for 8.5 years. After controlling for confounding factors, those with the healthiest sleep score were 35% less likely to develop stroke or heart disease than those with the worst sleep scores. High genetic risk of cardiovascular disease could be partially offset by high sleep quality.

While this study has a large sample size and long follow up period, sleep patterns were self reported, and so may not be accurate. It is also important to note that this study does not establish causation: it is possible that other, unmeasured factors caused both poor sleep and cardiovascular disease.