Key result
Black young adults exhibit higher N2 sleep heart rates than White peers, driven by slow-wave sleep.
Why the study?
Marginalized racial/ethnic groups in the US experience higher rates of sleep disturbance and cardiovascular complications, and understanding the association between sleep and cardiovascular health in early adulthood may help prevent cardiovascular disparities.
Do racial/ethnic differences exist in sleep-related cardiovascular function among young, healthy adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=50)
Do racial/ethnic differences exist in sleep-related cardiovascular function among young, healthy adults?
Young, healthy non-Hispanic Black adults exhibit higher heart rates and lower heart rate variability during sleep compared to non-Hispanic white adults, differences that are mediated by less slow wave sleep.
Racial differences in nocturnal HR may signal early CV disparities; hypothesis-generating for SWS mediation, needing longitudinal confirmation.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Considerable evidence shows that individuals from marginalized racial/ethnic groups in the United States experience greater rates of sleep disturbance and cardiovascular complications. Because sleep is a modifiable factor that is critically involved in cardiovascular health, improved understanding of the association between sleep and cardiovascular health during early adulthood can prevent cardiovascular disparities. This study examined racial/ethnic differences in cardiovascular function during sleep using heart rate and heart-rate-variability analyses. METHODS: Participants in this laboratory-based sleep study included healthy, "good sleepers" who were in early adulthood and resided in the United States at the time of participation (14 non-Hispanic Black [NHB; age = 30.9 (6.6), 57% female], 12 Asian [Asian, age = 26.0 (5.2), 42% female], and 24 non-Hispanic white [NHW; age = 24.6 (5.8), 79% female]). RESULTS: After adjusting for demographic factors and an apnea-hypopnea index, we found significantly higher heart rate within NREM Stage 2 (N2) (b = -22.6, p = .04) and REM sleep (b = -25.8, p =.048) and lower heart rate variability during N2 sleep (b = -22.6, p = .04) among NHB individuals compared with NHW individuals. Furthermore, NHB and Asian participants demonstrated significantly lower percent of time in slow wave sleep (SWS) compared with NHW participants (NHB: b = -22.6, p =.04; Asian: b = -22.6, p = .04). Individuals' percent of time in SWS significantly mediated differences in heart rate during N2 (indirect = 0.94, 95% CI [0.03, 2.68]) and REM sleep (indirect = 1.02, 95% CI [0.04, 3.04]). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed disparities in sleep-related cardiovascular function in early adulthood that are mediated by SWS. These data suggest targeting sleep health in early adulthood might help reduce cardiovascular disease burden on individuals from marginalized groups.
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Letzen et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (n=50). Non-Hispanic Black or Asian race/ethnicity vs. Non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity was evaluated on Heart rate within NREM Stage 2 (N2) sleep (b = -22.6, p=0.04).
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