Nirav P. Patel

Mortality associated with short sleep duration: The evidence, the possible mechanisms, and the future

This review of the scientific literature examines the widely observed relationship between sleep duration and mortality. As early as 1964, data have shown that 7-h sleepers experience the lowest risks for all-cause mortality, whereas those at the shortest and longest sleep durations have significantly higher mortality risks. Numerous follow-up studies from around the world (e.g., Japan, Israel, Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom) show similar relationships. We discuss possible mechanisms, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, physiologic stress, immunity, and socioeconomic status. We put forth a social-ecological framework to explore five possible pathways for the relationship between sleep duration and mortality, and we conclude with a four-point agenda for future research.

Sleep duration versus sleep insufficiency as predictors of cardiometabolic health outcomes

OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between sleep insufficiency and sleep duration, particularly regarding negative cardiometabolic health outcomes already considered to be affected by reduced sleep time. METHODS A total of N=30,934 participants from the 2009 Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) answered questions about their sleep duration as well as subjective feelings of sleep insufficiency. Outcomes included body mass index (BMI), obesity (BMI ≥ 30kgm(-2)) and history of hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, heart attack and stroke. Linear and logistic regression models examined whether cardiometabolic outcomes were associated with (1) sleep duration alone, (2) sleep insufficiency alone and (3) the combined effect of sleep duration and sleep insufficiency. RESULTS Results indicated that, when examined alone, sleep duration <5h (versus 7h) was related to BMI (B=2.716, p<0.01), obesity (B=2.080, p<0.000001), diabetes (B=3.162, p<0.000001), hypertension (B=2.703, p<0.000001), hypercholesterolaemia (B=1.922, p<0.00001), heart attack (B=4.704, p<0.000001) and stroke (B=4.558, p<0.000001), and sleep insufficiency (days per week, continuous) was related to BMI (B=0.181, p<0.01), obesity (B=1.061, p<0.000001) and hypercholesterolaemia (B=1.025, p<0.01). All of these relationships remained significant after adjustment for covariates, except for diabetes and sleep duration. Also, after adjustment, a significant relationship between insufficient sleep and hypertension emerged (B=1.039, p<0.001). When evaluated together, after adjustment for covariates, significant relationships remained between sleep duration <5h (versus 7h) and BMI (B=1.266, p<0.05), obesity (B=1.389, p<0.05), hypertension (B=1.555, p<0.01), heart attack (B=2.513, p<0.01) and stroke (B=1.807, p<0.05). It should be noted that relationships between sleep duration >9h (versus 7h) were seen for heart attack (B=1.863, p<0.001) and stroke (B=1.816, p<0.01). In these models, sleep insufficiency was associated with hypercholesterolaemia (B=1.031, p<0.01) and hypertension (B=1.027, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS These analyses show that both sleep duration and insufficiency are related to cardiometabolic health outcomes, and that when evaluated together, both variables demonstrate unique effects.

Sleep symptoms, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic position.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Growing evidence indicates sleep is a major public health issue. Race/ethnicity and socioeconomics may contribute to sleep problems. This study assessed whether sleep symptoms were more prevalent among minorities and/or the socioeconomically disadvantaged. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING Epidemiologic survey. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 4,081). INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Sociodemographics included age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, and immigration. Socioeconomics included poverty, education, private insurance, and food insecurity. Sleep symptoms assessed were sleep latency > 30 min, difficulty falling asleep, sleep maintenance difficulties, early morning awakenings, non-restorative sleep, daytime sleepiness, snorting/gasping, and snoring. Decreased reported problems for most symptoms were found among minorities, immigrants, and lower education levels. In general, in fully adjusted models, long sleep latency was associated with female gender, being black/African American, lower education attainment, no private insurance, and food insecurity. Difficulty falling asleep, sleep maintenance difficulties, early morning awakenings, and non-restorative sleep were also associated with female gender and food insecurity. Daytime sleepiness was seen in female and divorced respondents. Snorting/gasping was more prevalent among male, other-Hispanic/Latino, and 9(th)- to 11(th)-grade-level respondents. Snoring was prevalent among male, other-Hispanic/Latino, less-educated, and food-insecure respondents. CONCLUSIONS Sleep symptoms were associated with multiple sociodemographic and economic factors, though these relationships differed by predictor and sleep outcome. Also, reports depended on question wording.

Age and Sleep Disturbances Among American Men And Women: Data From the U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

STUDY OBJECTIVE Explore the prevalence of sleep-related complaints across age groups, examining effects of sex, general health, and depressed mood. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). SETTING Epidemiologic. PARTICIPANTS Complete-case analysis included 155,877 participants who responded to questions related to Self-Reported Sleep Disturbance (SLEEPDIST) and Self-Reported Tiredness/Lack of Energy (TIREDNESS). INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Outcomes were self-reported complaints in response to survey questions assessing SLEEPDIST and TIREDNESS, dichotomized as reporting a complaint < 6 versus ≥ 6 nights or days, respectively, in a 2-wk period. Predictors were age, general health, and depressed mood. All analyses were adjusted for race/ethnicity, income, education, and time since last medical checkup. Across all age groups, women reported more SLEEPDIST and TIREDNESS. Poor general health, mild depressed mood, and moderate/severe depressed mood were associated with SLEEPDIST and TIREDNESS. Both SLEEPDIST and TIREDNESS generally declined across the life span, with fewest endorsements in respondents older than 80 yr. For SLEEPDIST, odds ratios (ORs, reference = 80+) declined from age 18-54 yr, rose slightly, and then declined again after age 59 yr in men. The pattern was similar for women, except a more marked rise was noted from age 40-59 yr. The pattern was similar for TIREDNESS. CONCLUSIONS Advancing age was not associated with increased Self-Reported Sleep Disturbance or Self-Reported Tiredness/Lack of Energy. These results suggest that the often-reported increase in sleep problems with age is a nonlinear phenomenon, mediated by factors other than physiologic aging.

Perceived Racial Discrimination as an Independent Predictor of Sleep Disturbance and Daytime Fatigue

Perceived discrimination is a potential cause of racial and ethnic disparities in health. Disturbed sleep may serve as a mechanism linking perceived racism with health consequences. This study investigates data from 7,148 adults from Michigan and Wisconsin who participated in the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses explored associations between perceived racial discrimination and self-reported sleep disturbance and daytime fatigue. Sleep disturbance and daytime fatigue were reported in 19% and 21% of the sample, respectively. Black/African American respondents (21%) report perceiving worse experiences, compared to people of other races, when seeking health care at higher rates than non-Hispanic White respondents (3%). Results from logistic regression models show that perceived racial discrimination is associated with increased risks of sleep disturbance (odds ratio [OR] = 2.62, p < .0001) and daytime fatigue (OR = 2.07, p < .0001). After adjustment for all covariates, perceived discrimination remains a significant predictor of sleep disturbance (OR = 1.60, p = .04). The interaction between perceived racism and race (Black/African American vs. non-Hispanic White) was nonsignificant. This population-based research adds to the growing body of data, suggesting that perceived racism may impact health via its influence on sleep-wake behaviors.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Diagnosis and Management in Older Adults

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in older adults is a complex disorder with several unique age‐related aspects. Underlying changes in pulmonary lung function and poor sensitivity to bronchoconstriction and hypoxia with advancing age can place older adults at greater risk of mortality or other complications from COPD. The establishment of the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease criteria, which can be effectively applied to older adults, has more rigorously defined the diagnosis and management of COPD. An important component of this approach is the use of spirometry for disease staging, a procedure that can be performed in most older adults. The management of COPD includes smoking cessation, influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, and the use of short‐ and long‐acting bronchodilators. Unlike with asthma, corticosteroid inhalers represent a third‐line option for COPD. Combination therapy is frequently required. When using various inhaler designs, it is important to note that older adults, especially those with more‐severe disease, may have inadequate inspiratory force for some dry‐powder inhalers, although many older adults find the dry‐powder inhalers easier to use than metered‐dose inhalers. Other important treatment options include pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, noninvasive positive airway pressure, and depression and osteopenia screening. Clinicians caring for older adults with an acute COPD exacerbation should also guard against prognostic pessimism. Although COPD is associated with significant disability, there is a growing range of treatment options to assist patients.

From sleep duration to mortality: implications of meta-analysis and future directions

Although, to a large extent, the functions of sleep remain elusive, the amount of sleep that humans attain represents a health issue that has received growing attention. Over the past 60 years, accruing evidence demonstrates that self-reported short or long sleep duration (usually 8 h) is related to mortality risk. Intense interest in the sleep–mortality relationship has paralleled mounting evidence, laboratory-based and epidemiological, implicating sleep duration in a variety of health outcomes including obesity, cardiovascular disease and metabolic dysregulation. The act of sleeping, therefore, is a critical health behavior.

The effect of shoulder magnetic resonance imaging on clinical decision making

One hundred cases were prospectively evaluated to determine the impact of magnetic resonance imaging on clinical decision making in an orthopaedic practice devoted to the treatment of disorders about the shoulder. Each was analyzed for changes in the clinical diagnosis or treatment. A change that either changed the primary diagnosis or type of treatment (operative versus nonoperative) was classified as category one. If additional clinically relevant findings were noted on the imaging studies without altering the primary diagnosis, or if the form of treatment was modified but not changed from operative or nonoperative, it was considered category two. Among the 100 imaging studies reviewed, category one and two changes were observed in 11 and 7 cases, respectively. Magnetic resonance imaging was particularly helpful in diagnosing ganglion cysts about the shoulder, a category one change in three out of three cases. For specific diagnoses a category one or two change was observed in 17% (10 of 59), 29% (4 of 14), 8% (1 of 13),and 100% (2 of 2) for rotator cuff disease, glenohumeral instability, adhesive capsulitis, and biceps disease, respectively. In 35 cases magnetic resonance imaging was considered to be unnecessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient. For the 65 patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging, category one and two changes were noted in 10 and 5 patients, respectively. Statistical significance was demonstrated for category one changes in the entire group (100 cases) and the in subgroup recommended for magnetic resonance imaging (65 cases) (p < 0.05), indicating that the judicious use of magnetic resonance imaging can have a significant increase its impact on clinical decision making. Magnetic resonance imaging was found to be of limited diagnostic value in patients with an isolated primary clinical diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis, glenohumeral or acromioclavicular arthritis, brachial plexopathy, and cervical degenerative disk disease.

Social and Behavioral Determinants of Perceived Insufficient Sleep

Insufficient sleep is associated with cardiometabolic disease and poor health. However, few studies have assessed its determinants in a nationally representative sample. Data from the 2009 behavioral risk factor surveillance system were used (N = 323,047 adults). Insufficient sleep was assessed as insufficient rest/sleep over 30 days. This was evaluated relative to sociodemographics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, region), socioeconomics (education, income, employment, insurance), health behaviors (diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol), and health/functioning (emotional support, BMI, mental/physical health). Overall, insufficient sleep was associated with being female, White or Black/African-American, unemployed, without health insurance, and not married; decreased age, income, education, physical activity; worse diet and overall health; and increased household size, alcohol, and smoking. These factors should be considered as risk factors for insufficient sleep.

Sleep-Related Behaviors and Beliefs Associated With Race/Ethnicity in Women

Explore how social factors influence sleep, especially sleep-related beliefs and behaviors. Sleep complaints, sleep hygiene behaviors, and beliefs about sleep were studied in 65 black/African American and white/European American women. Differences were found for snoring and discrepancy between sleep duration and need. Sleep behaviors differed across groups for napping, methods for coping with sleep difficulties, and nonsleep behaviors in bed. Beliefs also distinguished groups, with differences in motivation for sleep and beliefs about sleep being important for health and functioning. These findings have important public health implications in terms of developing effective sleep education interventions that include consideration of cultural aspects.