Sleep duration has long been recognized as a crucial component of overall cardiovascular health, and its impact on stroke risk has garnered attention. A study published in STROKE Journal Of Cerebral Circulation conducted as part of the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS) by Christian Agudelo and colleagues sheds light on the connection between sleep duration and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, a precursor to stroke. The study's findings emphasize the potential implications for individuals with long sleep durations and their risk of stroke, particularly among racially and ethnically diverse populations.

Stroke is known to disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic populations in the United States. To investigate the relationship between sleep duration and carotid atherosclerosis, researchers examined data from NOMAS, which encompasses a racially and ethnically diverse community of adults. The study collected information on self-reported sleep duration and daytime sleepiness, as well as measured carotid plaque presence, total plaque area, and intima-media thickness through ultrasound scans.
Key findings from the study include:
• The study sample consisted of 1,553 individuals with an average age of 64.7 years. The sample was predominantly female (61.9%) and racially diverse, with 64.8% identifying as Hispanic and 18.2% as non-Hispanic Black.
• Sleep duration was categorized into three groups: short sleep (<7 hours), intermediate sleep (≥7 and <9 hours), and long sleep (≥9 hours). Of the participants, 22.3% reported short sleep, 66.6% reported intermediate sleep, and 11.1% reported long sleep.
• The study found that participants with long sleep durations had a higher likelihood of carotid plaque presence compared to those with intermediate sleep durations. The odds ratio was 1.6 (95% CI, 1.1–2.4), indicating a significant association between long sleep and carotid plaque.
• Long sleep was also associated with larger total plaque area in the carotid arteries, as evidenced by an odds ratio of 1.4 (95% CI, 1.0–1.9).
• Short sleep duration and daytime sleepiness were not significantly associated with any measures of carotid atherosclerosis.
The study's findings suggest that long sleep duration may contribute to subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, potentially explaining the previously observed link between long sleep and stroke risk. These results underscore the importance of understanding sleep patterns in relation to cardiovascular health, particularly in individuals with long sleep durations. However, further research is necessary to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms and to determine how sleep duration may interact with other risk factors for stroke.
This study highlights the ongoing efforts to unravel the complex relationship between sleep and cardiovascular health, providing valuable insights for both medical practitioners and individuals seeking to reduce their risk of stroke. It emphasizes the need for tailored interventions to address sleep-related factors that may contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases, ultimately aiming to improve overall health outcomes.
Reference:
Agudelo, C., Ramos, A. R., Gardener, H., Cheung, K., Elkind, M. S. V., Sacco, R. L., & Rundek, T. (2023). Sleep duration is associated with subclinical carotid plaque burden. Stroke; a Journal of Cerebral Circulation. https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.122.041967