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Abstract Introduction The Air Quality Index (AQIUS) is a measure of how clean or polluted the ambient air of a given area may be, scored 0-500 (0-50 excellent; 300 hazardous) based on components measurable in the air. Air Quality-related risk factors that affect health outcomes include preexisting diseases and low-socioeconomic status, factors that are disproportionately present in Black communities. Sleep plays a vital role in health outcomes and awakenings after sleep onset has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular related diseases. Previous research has also suggested that mechanisms explaining long-term health outcomes include air quality exposure during sleep. To understand those mechanisms, this study explores the association between average awakenings at night and AQIUS score among Blacks. Methods Data were pulled from 2 NIH-funded studies (ESSENTIAL and MOSAIC). Analyses of correlation matrices were conducted, descriptive statistics were analyzed, and linear regression analysis of AQIUS and average awakenings in minutes was performed using SPSS 29. For a period of seven days, 108 Black participants ≥ 18 years, monitored their bedroom's air quality using the IQAir device, which provided the AQIUS score during their sleep. Participants wore Fitbits for a week to track their sleep and physical activity. The effect of AQIUS on sleep parameters: average awakenings at night, sleep efficiency, quality, and duration was explored. Results Of 108 participants, 75 were Female (69.4%) and 33 were male (n=30.6%), Mage 48.31 ±16.725 years. On average, study participants experience 15.57±7.316 awakenings per sleep period. Number of awakenings was moderately negatively correlated (r(106)=.465,p.001) with AQIUS, showing that as air quality decreases, the number of night awakenings increases. Regression analyses revealed AQIUS as a strong predictor of average awakenings in minutes at night in Blacks β=-.248; p .006.) Conclusion Air Quality Index is a robust predictor of average nocturnal awakenings among Blacks. Further research should investigate the importance of air quality to prevent cardiovascular diseases and to promote better overall health and sleep. Support (if any) NIH R01AG067523, R01HL142066
Elvariste et al. (Sat,) studied this question.