High-sensitivity CRP moderated the association between sleep quality and anxiety (interaction p=0.017), with poor sleep linked to higher anxiety primarily at low hs-CRP levels (b=-0.048, p=0.016).
Cross-Sectional (n=210)
Yes
Does hs-CRP moderate the association between sleep quality and anxiety/depression in Black adults?
hs-CRP moderates the link between sleep quality and anxiety in Black adults, with poor sleep associated with higher anxiety primarily at lower hs-CRP levels.
Effect estimate: b = -0.048
p-value: p=0.016
Abstract Introduction High-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) is an inflammatory biomarker linked to cardiovascular and mental health. However, its role as a moderator of observed associations between sleep quality and mental health is understudied, particularly in Black populations, who are characterized by important population-level health disparities. This study examines whether hs-CRP moderates the relationship between sleep quality and anxiety/depression among Black adults residing in New York City and South Florida. Methods Participants (N = 210; 73.8% female; mean age 52.14 ± 13.95 years; mean BMI = 29.69 ± 6.56) were Black adults enrolled in two NIH-funded studies (MOSAIC & ESSENTIAL) examining sleep health and related medical health outcomes. Variables showing non-Gaussian distributions were log10-transformed to remove skewness, improve normality, and harmonize data from the two studies prior to analyses. Data included baseline surveys, one week of sleep monitoring via Sleep Image Ring (yielding the Sleep Quality Index, SQI), and fasting blood draws to assess hs-CRP levels. Moderation analyses were conducted using PROCESS version 5.0 in IBM SPSS to test whether hs-CRP moderated the association between SQI and self-reported depression and anxiety, controlling for BMI, sex, employment status, sleep apnea diagnosis, and usage of antidepressants, hypnotics, and minor tranquilizers. Results Regarding anxiety, the SQI × hs-CRP interaction was significant (χ² = 5.69, p = 0.017). Conditional effects indicated that poorer sleep quality was associated with greater anxiety at low hs-CRP levels (b = −0.048, p = 0.016), but not at different hs-CRP levels. Johnson–Neyman analysis identified a region of significance below −0.25 SD of hs-CRP. Regarding depression, the SQI x hs-CRP interaction was not significant (χ² = 2.04, p = 0.153), and conditional effects were nonsignificant across all levels of hs-CRP. Conclusion These findings suggest that hs-CRP may influence the link between sleep quality and anxiety, but not depression. Poor sleep was associated with higher anxiety, primarily among individuals with lower hs-CRP levels. These results emphasize the role of inflammation in sleep-related anxiety among Black adults and the need for further study of the mechanisms underlying effects of sleep, inflammation, and lifestyle factors on mental health outcomes. Support (if any) NIH (R01AG067523, R01HL142066)
Betancourt et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Anxiety and depression (n=210). Sleep quality (SQI) and hs-CRP was evaluated on Self-reported depression and anxiety (b = -0.048, p=0.016). High-sensitivity CRP moderated the association between sleep quality and anxiety (interaction p=0.017), with poor sleep linked to higher anxiety primarily at low hs-CRP levels (b=-0.048, p=0.016).