What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Trauma exposure (n=60). Intervention: Sleep efficiency and PTSD symptom severity (Observational). Primary outcome: Arterial stiffness (PWV) and microvascular endothelial function (fRHI) (p=<0.001).

July 28, 2023Open Access

Sleep efficiency and PTSD symptom severity predict microvascular endothelial function and arterial stiffness in young, trauma-exposed women

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

In young trauma-exposed women, sleep efficiency predicted both arterial stiffness and microvascular endothelial function, whereas PTSD symptom severity specifically predicted microvascular endothelial function (b=-0.373, P=0.005).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

In young trauma-exposed women, sleep efficiency predicts both arterial stiffness and microvascular endothelial function, whereas PTSD symptom severity specifically predicts microvascular endothelial function. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

CTChowdhury Tasnova TahsinUniversity of Minnesota VMVasiliki MichopoulosEmory Healthcare APAbigail PowersEmory University

Key Result

In young trauma-exposed women, sleep efficiency predicted both arterial stiffness and microvascular endothelial function, whereas PTSD symptom severity specifically predicted microvascular endothelial function (b=-0.373, P=0.005).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=60)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Do sleep efficiency and PTSD symptom severity predict microvascular endothelial function and arterial stiffness in young, trauma-exposed women?

Population

Young premenopausal trauma-exposed women

Intervention

Objective sleep (sleep efficiency) and PTSD symptoms severity (exposures)

Outcome

Arterial stiffness and microvascular endothelial functionsurrogate

In young trauma-exposed women, poor sleep efficiency and severe PTSD symptoms are independently associated with impaired vascular function, highlighting potential cardiovascular risk pathways.

Main Result

p-value: p=<0.001

Limitations

Relatively small sample size for multiple linear regression analyses.
Cross-sectional and correlational design prevents causal or temporally oriented conclusions.
Did not assess trauma load, timeline of trauma, or examine how associations vary by traumatic event type.
Results may not generalize to other populations (e.g., men, trans and nonbinary individuals, older women).
Did not measure circulating levels of estradiol (E2), which fluctuates over the menstrual cycle and mediates vascular function.

Abstract

This is the first study to investigate the individual and combined impacts of objective sleep and PTSD symptoms severity on arterial stiffness and microvascular endothelial function in young premenopausal women. We report that in young trauma-exposed women, although low sleep efficiency is associated with overall vascular function (i.e., microvascular endothelial function and arterial stiffness), the severity of PTSD symptoms is specifically associated with microvascular endothelial function, after accounting for age and body mass index.

Ask AI

Helpful

Bookmark

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Helpful

Bookmark

View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Tahsin et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Trauma exposure (n=60). Sleep efficiency and PTSD symptom severity (Observational) was evaluated on Arterial stiffness (PWV) and microvascular endothelial function (fRHI) (p=<0.001). In young trauma-exposed women, sleep efficiency predicted both arterial stiffness and microvascular endothelial function, whereas PTSD symptom severity specifically predicted microvascular endothelial function (b=-0.373, P=0.005).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a11098bc56c5252651a1315 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00169.2023

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: