Associations of accelerometer-measured sleep duration with incident cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality

Study objectives: This study aimed to determine the associations between accelerometer-measured sleep durations and the risks of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD-related mortality.

Methods: A total of 92 261 participants (mean age: 62.4 ± 7.8 years, 56.4% female) were included in UK Biobank between 2013 and 2015. Average daily sleep durations were measured using wrist-worn accelerometers over a 7-day period. Sleep durations were categorized as <7 hours/day, 7-9 hours/day (reference), and >9 hours/day. The incidence of CVD and CVD-related mortality were ascertained by hospital records and death registries.

Results: During a median follow-up period of 7.0 years, a total of 13 167 participants developed CVD, and 1079 participants died of CVD. Compared with a sleep duration 7-9 hours/day, an accelerometer-measured sleep duration <7 hours/day but not >9 hours/day was associated with higher risks of incident CVD (HR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.10), CVD-related mortality (HR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.47), coronary heart disease (HR 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.19), myocardial infarction (HR 1.14, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.27), heart failure (HR 1.20, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.34), and atrial fibrillation (HR 1.15, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.24). A curvilinear dose‒response pattern was observed between accelerometer-measured sleep durations and incident CVD (poverall < .001), with L-shaped associations found for incident CVD and CVD-related mortality.

Conclusions: An accelerometer-measured sleep duration of <7 hours/day but not >9 hours/day was associated with elevated risks of incident CVD and CVD-related mortality. Maintaining adequate sleep may help promote cardiovascular health.