Association of sleep duration with significant coronary artery disease requiring percutaneous coronary intervention

Background Sleep duration is increasingly recognized as a cardiovascular risk factor, influencing coronary artery disease (CAD) progression. Short sleep duration (<6 hours) has been associated with metabolic and inflammatory changes contributing to atherosclerosis. However, its direct link to significant coronary lesions requiring percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear. Purpose To assess the association between sleep duration and the presence of significant coronary lesions necessitating PCI, evaluating its relationship with conventional cardiovascular risk factors and demographic parameters. Methods A retrospective analysis of 759 PCI patients in the year 2024 was conducted. Patients were categorized based on self-reported sleep duration: ≤6 hours (n=481) and >6 hours (n=278). Baseline characteristics, including diabetes, hypertension, smoking, alcohol use, age, and sex, were compared between groups. Statistical significance was evaluated using the chi-square test. Results Among PCI patients, 63.4% (n=481) reported sleeping ≤6 hours, while 36.6% (n=278) reported >6 hours. The prevalence of diabetes was comparable (45.7% vs. 44.9%), while hypertension was slightly more frequent in the short sleep group (44.2% vs. 41.4%). Smoking (39.2% vs. 37.7%) and alcohol use (31.3% vs. 28.4%) were also higher in the ≤6-hour group. The chi-square statistic for sleep and PCI association was 5.77 (p=0.055), suggesting a trend toward significance. Patients with shorter sleep duration exhibited greater age variability, with a median age of 55 years. The sex distribution showed a higher proportion of males in both sleep groups, with a male-to-female ratio of 3.3:1 in the ≤6-hour group and 2.7:1 in the >6-hour group. Notably, males with short sleep appeared more susceptible to requiring PCI compared to females. Conclusion A majority of PCI patients reported sleeping ≤6 hours, indicating a possible link between sleep deprivation and significant CAD requiring intervention. While traditional risk factors remain predominant, sleep deprivation may be an independent yet underrecognized contributor. The observed male predominance and younger age profile in the short sleep group suggest a potential susceptibility to CAD in these populations. Although statistical significance was borderline, further prospective studies using objective sleep assessments are warranted to explore the mechanistic role of sleep deprivation in CAD progression and intervention.