Long sleep duration: a nonconventional indicator of arterial stiffness in Japanese at high risk of cardiovascular disease: the J-HOP study

Long and short sleep durations were reported as independently associated with hypertension, aortic stiffness, and cardiovascular disease. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was shown to be associated with increased aortic stiffness. Here, we investigated the relationship between self-reported sleep duration and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the elderly at high risk of cardiovascular disease. We also investigated whether hs-CRP moderates this relationship. Among 4310 patients with ≥1 cardiovascular risks recruited for the Japan Morning Surge-Home Blood Pressure Study, a questionnaire including items on daily sleep duration was completed. We measured the brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) and hs-CRP levels in 2304 of these patients (mean age 64.7 years, 49.6% males). In accord with the patients' sleep duration (<6 hours, ≥6 to <8 hours, and ≥8 hours per night), significant associations between sleep duration and the PWV were observed (1594 vs. 1644 vs. 1763 cm/s, P < .0001). In the multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, body mass index, total cholesterol, HbA1c and clinic systolic blood pressure, long sleep duration (≥8 hours per night) (P < .05), and log hs-CRP (P < .05) were significantly positively associated with PWV when the patients with 6- to 8-hour sleep duration were defined as a reference group. Significant interactions of long sleep duration by age and that by antihypertensive medication for baPWV were observed. The effect of long sleep on PWV was greatest in the oldest age group. Long sleep duration and hs-CRP were significant indicators of increased baPWV in this elderly high-risk Japanese population. Age and antihypertensive medication use were significant modulators of the relationship between long sleep duration and arterial stiffness.