Obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension; critical overview.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and hypertension are two important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Numerous studies have highlighted the interplay between these two conditions. We provide a critical review of the current literature on the role of the OSA as a risk factor for hypertension and its effect on blood pressure (BP). We discuss several key topics: the effect of OSA on nocturnal BP, BP response to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, CPAP effect on BP in refractory hypertension, the role of OSA in BP variability (BPV), and maladaptive cardiac remodeling mediated by OSA's effect on BP. Finally, we discuss the unique aspects of ethnicity and social determinants of health on OSA with a focus on Asian populations and the disparity in BP control and cardiovascular outcomes.

Psychological distress, forced awakening, and morning blood pressure surge.

BACKGROUND: Morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) has been recognized as an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease events. Psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, and behavioral risk factors, such as poor sleep quality, have been associated with increased MBPS. Elevations in sympathetic activity induced by forced awakening may also contribute to further increases in MBPS. Yet, no examination of the interrelationships among psychological distress, sleep quality, awakening mode (natural vs. forced awakenings), and MBPS has been undertaken. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aimed: (1) to examine if MBPS differs by awakening mode and (2) to investigate whether psychological distress is associated with MBPS difference between natural and forced awakenings, independent of sleep quality. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy adults were included in this cross-sectional study. Blood pressure was measured using a beat-to-beat blood pressure monitor over two nights, consisting of one night of natural awakening and one night of forced awakening. Psychological distress and sleep quality were assessed using questionnaires. We conducted paired t-tests (aim 1) and multiple linear regressions (aim 2). RESULTS: MBPS was significantly greater during forced awakening compared with natural awakening. In addition, the MBPS difference between natural and forced awakenings was significantly greater in participants with higher anxiety levels, independent of sleep quality. CONCLUSION: We found that augmentation of MBPS by forced awakening was significantly greater in individuals who reported higher anxiety levels. Additional research is needed to examine the potential impacts of forced awakening and anxiety on MBPS in a larger sample of individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease.

The impact of forced awakening on morning blood pressure surge.

BACKGROUND: Poor sleep quality can cause an increase in morning blood pressure surge (MBPS), an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Awakening induced by external factors such as alarm clocks, may also contribute to increased MBPS. OBJECTIVES: To (1) compare the MBPS and sleep quality parameters between natural and forced awakenings and (2) examine the potential impact of forced awakening on MBPS, independent of sleep quality. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy adults participated in this pilot study, which included one night of natural awakening and one night of forced awakening (i.e., sleep was interrupted by an alarm after five hours). Objective and self-reported sleep quality parameters were measured using a multisensory wristband and sleep diaries, respectively, and beat-to-beat blood pressure variability was assessed using a continuous blood pressure monitor. Analyses included a paired t-test (objective 1) and linear mixed models (objective 2). RESULTS: Participants predominantly consisted of young, healthy, and highly educated Asian adults. During the night of sleep with forced awakening, significantly higher MBPS, lower objective wakefulness after sleep onset, and lower self-reported sleep latency were observed, compared to the night with natural awakening. Forced awakening was significantly associated with increased MBPS after controlling for age, sex, mean arterial pressure, and sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: Forced awakening may significantly increase MBPS, consequently heightening the risk of CVD events. Study findings should be validated in a larger sample. Further research is also warranted to examine the impact of forced awakening on MBPS in individuals with CVD.

Characterization of sleep efficiency transitions in family caregivers.

Family caregivers are at high risk of psychological distress and low sleep efficiency resulting from their caregiving responsibilities. Although psychological symptoms are associated with sleep efficiency, there is limited knowledge about the association of psychological distress with variations in sleep efficiency. We aimed to characterize the short- and long-term patterns of caregivers' sleep efficiency using Markov chain models and compare these patterns between groups with high and low psychological symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, and caregiving stress). Based on 7-day actigraphy data from 33 caregivers, we categorized sleep efficiency into three states, < 75% (S1), 75-84% (S2), and ≥ 85% (S3), and developed Markov chain models. Caregivers were likely to maintain a consistent sleep efficiency state from one night to the next without returning efficiently to a normal state. On average, it took 3.6-5.1 days to return to a night of normal sleep efficiency (S3) from lower states, and the long-term probability of achieving normal sleep was 42%. We observed lower probabilities of transitioning to or remaining in a normal sleep efficiency state (S3) in the high depression and anxiety groups compared to the low symptom groups. The differences in the time required to return to a normal state were inconsistent by symptom levels. The long-term probability of achieving normal sleep efficiency was significantly lower for caregivers with high depression and anxiety compared to the low symptom groups. Caregivers' sleep efficiency appears to remain relatively consistent over time and does not show rapid recovery. Caregivers with higher levels of depression and anxiety may be more vulnerable to sustained suboptimal sleep efficiency.

Sleep Deficiency by Caregiving Status: Findings From Nationally Representative Data.

OBJECTIVE: Caregiving demands may influence caregivers' sleep duration and quality, which are essential for optimal health. We aimed to examine the association between caregiving status and sleep deficiency (i.e., short sleep duration and/or poor quality) and identify factors associated with sleep deficiency among caregivers. METHODS: This secondary analysis used data from 3870 adults living in the United States, obtained from the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey. Multinomial logistic regressions were performed to examine the association between caregiving status (i.e., caregivers vs. non-caregivers) and sleep status (i.e., normal duration-good quality [optimal sleep, reference], short duration-good quality, normal duration-poor quality, and short duration-poor quality), and to identify caregiving-related factors associated with sleep deficiency in the caregiver group. RESULTS: Compared to non-caregivers, caregivers were more likely to report short sleep duration (<7 hours) with good quality sleep (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.566, 95% CI [1.238, 1.980]) or poor quality sleep (RRR = 1.376, 95% CI [1.034, 1.832]) than the optimal sleep status. Caregivers providing care for ≥20 hours per week (vs. <20 hours) and providing care to individuals with dementia (vs. no dementia caregiving) were 2.8 times more likely to report normal sleep duration with poor sleep quality than optimal sleep (RRR = 2.796, 95% CI [1.125, 6.950]; RRR = 2.776, 95% CI [1.154, 6.675], respectively). CONCLUSION: The findings of a higher risk of sleep deficiency among caregivers suggest that health care providers need to assess both caregivers' sleep duration and quality status. Interventions tailored to the caregiving context are also warranted.

Multi-ancestry epigenome-wide analyses identify methylated sites associated with aortic augmentation index in TOPMed MESA.

Despite the prognostic value of arterial stiffness (AS) and pulsatile hemodynamics (PH) for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, epigenetic modifications that contribute to AS/PH remain unknown. To gain a better understanding of the link between epigenetics (DNA methylation) and AS/PH, we examined the relationship of eight measures of AS/PH with CpG sites and co-methylated regions using multi-ancestry participants from Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) with sample sizes ranging from 438 to 874. Epigenome-wide association analysis identified one genome-wide significant CpG (cg20711926-CYP1B1) associated with aortic augmentation index (AIx). Follow-up analyses, including gene set enrichment analysis, expression quantitative trait methylation analysis, and functional enrichment analysis on differentially methylated positions and regions, further prioritized three CpGs and their annotated genes (cg23800023-ETS1, cg08426368-TGFB3, and cg17350632-HLA-DPB1) for AIx. Among these, ETS1 and TGFB3 have been previously prioritized as candidate genes. Furthermore, both ETS1 and HLA-DPB1 have significant tissue correlations between Whole Blood and Aorta in GTEx, which suggests ETS1 and HLA-DPB1 could be potential biomarkers in understanding pathophysiology of AS/PH. Overall, our findings support the possible role of epigenetic regulation via DNA methylation of specific genes associated with AIx as well as identifying potential targets for regulation of AS/PH.

Exploring Experiences of Pain Management Among Family Caregivers of Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Dementia.

BACKGROUND: Pain is often underreported and under-treated in older adults with dementia. The role of family caregivers (FCGs) in managing pain for their loved ones with dementia living in community has been significantly burdensome. Surprisingly, research has not delved into the experiences of FCGs' concerning pain management in this context. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted to gain a deep understanding of FCGs' experiences in managing pain for their loved ones. Family caregivers participated in semi-structured face-to-face or telephone interviews. Inclusion criterion included being an adult providing care to community-dwelling older adults with dementia. Recruitment stopped upon reaching thematic saturation. Basic demographic characteristics was also collected. Constant comparison analytic method was employed. RESULTS: The study included 25 FCGs in central Virginia, spanning ages from 29 to 95. Participants were predominantly white, female, married, and had a minimum high school education. Most of them were adult children (52%) or the spouses (28%) of the care recipients. Four thematic categories emerged around exploring FCGs' pain management experiences: (1) Values; (2) Barriers; (3) Support; and (4) Adaptation. Each theme included sub-themes. CONCLUSION: Family caregivers follow their values to make decisions in pain management. Barriers existed for effective pain management. Adaptation and support from professional or formal caregivers greatly improved FCGs' perception of their competence in pain management. The finding underscores the need for further research and the development of interventions aimed at enhancing FCGs' perception of self-efficacy in this crucial aspect of caregiving.

Multi-ancestry epigenome-wide analyses identify methylated sites associated with aortic augmentation index in TOPMed MESA.

Despite the prognostic value of arterial stiffness (AS) and pulsatile hemodynamics (PH) for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, epigenetic modifications that contribute to AS/PH remain unknown. To gain a better understanding of the link between epigenetics (DNA methylation) and AS/PH, we examined the relationship of eight measures of AS/PH with CpG sites and co-methylated regions using multi-ancestry participants from Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) with sample sizes ranging from 438 to 874. Epigenome-wide association analysis identified one genome-wide significant CpG (cg20711926-CYP1B1) associated with aortic augmentation index (AIx). Follow-up analyses, including gene set enrichment analysis, expression quantitative trait methylation analysis, and functional enrichment analysis on differentially methylated positions and regions, further prioritized three CpGs and their annotated genes (cg23800023-ETS1, cg08426368-TGFB3, and cg17350632-HLA-DPB1) for AIx. Among these, ETS1 and TGFB3 have been previously prioritized as candidate genes. Furthermore, both ETS1 and HLA-DPB1 have significant tissue correlations between Whole Blood and Aorta in GTEx, which suggests ETS1 and HLA-DPB1 could be potential biomarkers in understanding pathophysiology of AS/PH. Overall, our findings support the possible role of epigenetic regulation via DNA methylation of specific genes associated with AIx as well as identifying potential targets for regulation of AS/PH.

Examining factors affecting self-care-self-regulation among registered nurses using path analysis.

BACKGROUND: Practicing self-care is a requisite for nurses as they face the extreme physical, mental, and emotional challenges presented by the pandemic era. This study aimed to examine factors that contribute to self-care-self-regulation (SCSR) and investigate the mediation effect of psychological and physical health in the relationship between work stress and SCSR among registered nurses in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the data collected from 386 registered nurses who completed an online survey over a 3-week period during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 19 to May 6, 2020). The survey assessed demographic and work-related characteristics, work stress, depressive mood, self-rated health, and SCSR. The model was tested with depressive mood as the first mediator and self-rated health as the second mediator. The potential serial mediation effect was analyzed using PROCESS macros adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: The sequential indirect effect of work stress on SCSR through depressive mood and self-rated health in series was significant, while its direct effect was not. CONCLUSION: The findings of the path analysis demonstrate that psychological and physical health status is important to promote self-care behaviors when nurses experience high work stress.

Association of disrupted sleep with 24-hour blood pressure variability in caregivers.

BACKGROUND: A growing body of research highlights the negative impact of caregiving on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine associations of psychological symptoms and sleep quality with 24-hour blood pressure variability (BPV), which is an independent predictor of CVD, among family caregivers of community-dwelling individuals with chronic illness. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, we assessed caregiving burden and depressive symptoms using questionnaires and 7-day sleep quality (i.e., number of awakenings, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency) using an actigraph. The participants carried out a 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring for systolic and diastolic BPV over 24 h and during awake/sleep times. We performed Pearson's correlations and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: The analytic sample consisted of 30 caregivers (25 female; mean age 62 years). The number of awakenings during sleep was positively correlated with systolic BPV-awake (r = 0.426, p = 0.019) and diastolic BPV-awake (r = 0.422, p = 0.020). Sleep efficiency was negatively correlated with diastolic BPV-awake (r = -0.368, p = 0.045). Caregiving burden and depressive symptoms were not correlated with BPV. After controlling for age and mean arterial pressure, the number of awakenings was significantly associated with increased systolic BPV-24 h (ß = 0.194, p = 0.018) and systolic BPV-awake (ß = 0.280, p = 0.002), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers' disrupted sleep may play a role in increased CVD risk. While these findings should be confirmed in large clinical studies, improving sleep quality would need to be considered in CVD prevention for caregivers.

Determinants of Daytime Sleepiness Among Middle-Aged Adults.

Daytime sleepiness is highly prevalent in middle-aged adults and has a detrimental impact on their quality of life. Our study examined the psychological and behavioral determinants of daytime sleepiness among adults aged 35 to 64 years. The main variables of interest were psychological factors (perceived stress and anxiety), physical activity factors (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behaviors), and dietary factors (fat, sugar, fruit, and vegetable intake). Partial correlation and multiple linear regression were conducted to determine their associations with daytime sleepiness, with adjustment for covariates. Our sample included 87 adults with a mean age of 47 ± 9 years. About 21% met the criterion for excessive daytime sleepiness. Greater anxiety, longer time spent in sedentary behaviors, and higher consumption of foods rich in trans fat, sugar, and calories were independently associated with higher daytime sleepiness levels. Targeted interventions or treatments are warranted to address the identified risk factors for middle-aged adults.

An Examination of Psychological Stress, Fatigue, Sleep, and Physical Activity in Chinese Americans.

Chinese Americans comprise the largest Asian subgroup in the U.S. Yet, little research has focused on the well-being of this population. This study aimed to (1) examine psycho-physiological health (psychological stress and fatigue) and lifestyle behaviors (sleep and physical activity) between Chinese Americans and whites, and (2) investigate whether race and lifestyle behaviors were independent predictors of psycho-physiological health. This study included 87 middle-aged healthy adults (41 Chinese Americans, 46 whites). Each participant underwent a two-night actigraphy-based sleep assessment. Chinese Americans reported higher psychological stress and fatigue, had poorer objective sleep outcomes (shorter sleep duration, lower sleep efficiency, and longer sleep onset), and engaged in lower physical activity levels than whites. Race and poor perceived sleep quality were independently associated with high psychological stress and fatigue. The findings warrant further exploration of social and cultural determinants of health in this minority group to reduce health disparities.

A Mother-Child Dyadic Approach to Evaluating Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Young Children: A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular (CV) risk factors can be transmitted from mothers to their children. However, it is challenging to measure and identify subclinical CV risk in young children using traditional CV risk methods and metrics. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of recruiting mother-child dyads and measuring arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity, augmentation index/pressure), blood pressure (BP), BP circadian pattern, specifically nocturnal BP dipping, and CV health metrics in mothers and in children aged 1 to 5 years. METHODS: All BP and arterial stiffness measures were obtained using the noninvasive automated oscillometric Mobil-O-Graph device. Also measured were blood cholesterol level; glucose level; body mass index (BMI); and smoking, diet, and physical activity history. Descriptive statistics were used for assessing recruitment feasibility and Pearson correlations for mother-child associations. RESULTS: Thirty-five mother-child dyads completed the protocol. Recruitment reach was 89% and retention rate was 80%. Mothers were 34.3 ± 5.4 years old with a mean systolic BP (SBP) of 114.6 ± 9.5 mm Hg and BMI of 26.0 ± 6.5. Children were 3 ± 1.4 years old with a mean SBP of 103.3 ± 9.4 mm Hg and BMI z-scores of -0.3 ± 1.5. Arterial stiffness parameters were within normal ranges for mothers and children. Twenty-three percent of mothers did not exhibit nocturnal dipping (<10% decrease between day and nighttime SBP). Maternal SBP was positively correlated with child BMI z-scores (r = 0.42, P = .022) as well as mother-child augmentation pressure (r = 0.51, P = .010). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support using a mother-child approach and novel noninvasive approaches to assess and target CV risk in mothers and their young children.

Genome-Wide mRNA Expression Analysis of Acute Psychological Stress Responses.

INTRODUCTION: Most previous studies have examined the effects of acute psychological stress in humans based on select gene panels. The genomic approach may help identify novel genes that underline biological mechanisms of acute psychological stress responses. OBJECTIVE: This exploratory study aimed to investigate genome-wide transcriptional activity changes in response to acute psychological stress. METHODS: The sample included 40 healthy women (mean age 31.4 ± 11.6 years). Twenty-two participants had a stress experience induced by the Trier Social Stress Test (experimental group) and 18 did not (control group). Psychological stress levels and hemodynamic changes were assessed before and after the Trier Social Stress Test. Peripheral blood samples obtained before and after the Trier Social Stress Test were processed for mRNA sequencing. RESULTS: Psychological and hemodynamic stress parameters indicated that the Trier Social Stress Test induced moderate levels of stress in the experimental group. Six genes (HCG26, HCP5, HLA-F, HLA-F-AS1, LOC1019287, and SLC22A16) were up-regulated, and fi ve genes (CA1, FBXO9, SNCA, STRADB, and TRMT12) were down-regulated among those who experienced stress induction, compared with the control group. Nine genes of eleven were linked to endocrine system disorders, neurological disease, and organismal injury and abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Of the genes identifi ed in this study, HCP5, SLC22A16, and SNCA genes have previously been proposed as therapeutic targets for cancer and Parkinson disease. Further studies are needed to examine pathological mechanisms through which these genes mediate eff ects of psychological stress on adverse health outcomes. Such studies may ultimately identify therapeutic targets that enhance biological resilience to adverse eff ects of psychological stress.

Perceived role overload and physical symptom experience among caregivers of older adults: The moderating effect of social support.

We investigated the association between perceived role overload and physical symptom experience, and the potential moderating effect of social support among caregivers of older adults. We analyzed data of 1,471 caregivers obtained from the 2017 National Study of Caregiving. In the survey, participants were assessed for physical symptoms (pain, limited leg strength, and low energy), symptom-related activity limitations, perceived role overload, and informal/formal support sources. We performed multiple logistic regression analyses with interaction terms. Caregivers who perceived higher role overload were more likely to experience the physical symptoms and frequent limited activities due to the symptoms. The associations of perceived role overload with pain and low energy, respectively, were attenuated among caregivers with high informal support. The moderating effect of formal support appeared to be the opposite in relation to pain. Caregivers who perceived high burden may benefit from their informal support to prevent detrimental effects of caregiving on physical health.

Elucidation of obstructive sleep apnoea related blood pressure surge using a novel continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure monitoring system.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) episode related blood pressure (BP) surge may mediate the association of OSA with cardiovascular disease. However, BP is not measured during a clinical sleep study. METHOD: We tested the feasibility of incorporating the Caretaker physiological monitor, which utilizes a novel continuous beat-to-beat (b-b) BP monitoring technology, into polysomnography (PSG) and aimed to characterize BP surges related to obstructive respiratory events. B-b BP was concurrently collected and merged with PSG data on a posthoc basis. We compared BP surge between mean respiratory (apnoea, hypopnea and desaturation-alone events) and nonrespiratory events (spontaneous or leg movement-related arousals). We examined the association of the degree of oxygen desaturation with BP surge in a given respiratory event combining all events. A total of 17 consecutive patients (12 men, mean 52 years old, nine diagnostic and eight split-night PSGs) undergoing clinically indicated PSG were included after excluding one patient with poor signal quality due to excessive movement. RESULTS: Caretaker was well tolerated. Mean respiratory BP surge ranged from 5 to 19 mmHg [Median (IQR) = 13.9 (9.5--16.2)]. Mean BP surge between the respiratory and nonrespiratory events was similar [13.8 (4.5) vs. 14.9 (5.3) mmHg, P = 0.13]. Accounting for the count distribution of desaturation/BP surge data pair events, there was a linear correlation between the degree of oxygen desaturation and BP surge (R = 0.57, P < 0.001). In eight patients undergoing split-night sleep studies, the number of BP surge events (≥10 mmHg/h) decreased during continuous positive airway pressure in all but one patient. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated highly variable OSA-related BP surge patterns using the Caretaker's b-b BP monitoring technology that has the potential to be integrated into sleep studies.

The Effects of the Medical Pause on Physiological Stress Markers among Health Care Providers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Contemplative practices promote well-being, work engagement and resilience among health care providers. We examined the impact of The Pause, a brief contemplative intervention, on health care providers' physiological stress response. Participants were randomly assigned to either The Pause or the control group. They participated in a high-fidelity, stressful medical simulation. Following the simulation, intervention group practiced The Pause. Outcome measures were heart rate variability, heart rate, and blood pressure. We adjusted for baseline physiological variables, sociodemographic variables, self-care practices, and perceived stress. Participants in the intervention group had a standard deviation of the normal-to-normal RR intervals (heart rate variability indicator) that was 13.8 (95% CI 4.0, 23.5; p < .01) points higher than those in the control group. There were no significant effects of The Pause on heart rate or blood pressure. The Pause may reduce stress reactivity, increase heart rate variability, and enhance resilience in health care providers.

Cardiovascular Disease Incidence and Risk in Family Caregivers of Adults With Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Family caregivers experience psychological distress or physical strain that may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to describe the current evidence and gaps in the literature on measures used to assess CVD outcomes in family caregivers, the association of caregiving with CVD incidence/risk outcomes, and associated factors in family caregivers of patients with chronic disease. METHODS: Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for English-language, peer-reviewed studies published from 2008 to 2020 that examined CVD incidence and risk among family caregivers of adults with chronic conditions. RESULTS: Forty-one studies were included in this review. The measures used to assess CVD risk were categorized into biochemical, subclinical markers, components of metabolic syndrome, and global risk scores. Compared with noncaregivers, caregivers were more likely to have higher CVD incidence rates and objectively measured risk. Cardiovascular disease risks were also increased by their caregiving experience, including hours/duration of caregiving, caregivers' poor sleep status, psychological symptoms, poor engagement in physical/leisure activities, and care recipient's disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Although there were limited longitudinal studies in caregivers of patients with diverse health conditions, we found evidence that caregivers are at high risk of CVD. Further research for various caregiver groups using robust methods of measuring CVD risk is needed. Caregiver factors should be considered in developing interventions aimed at reducing CVD risk for caregivers.

Factors Influencing Sleep Quality among Female Staff Nurses during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.

This study aimed to assess the overall level of sleep quality among female staff nurses in the United States during the early COVID-19 pandemic. It also aimed to examine factors associated with sleep quality and its seven subcomponents: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, use of sleeping medications, and daytime dysfunction. A descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study design was used. We performed descriptive, and regression analyses with a sample of 215 female staff nurses enrolled in post-licensure online nursing programs at a southeastern state university. Data collection was conducted using an online survey from April to May 2020. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Nurses working part time (p = 0.02), with lower perceived physical health (p = 0.01), a lower self-care self-regulation score (p < 0.001), and higher work stress (p < 0.05) showed poorer sleep quality. Factors associated with subcomponents of sleep quality varied. Poor sleep quality among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic was reported. Various factors, including work environmental factors were associated with the sleep quality in this sample. Hospital administrators should consider developing intervention programs for improving the work environment, which would impact sleep quality, health status, and job performance.

Sleep moderates the association between arterial stiffness and 24-hour blood pressure variability.

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness and increased blood pressure variability (BPV) are important subclinical cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Evidence is accumulating that poor sleep is associated with subclinical CVDs. The purpose of our study was to investigate how sleep was related to arterial stiffness and BPV. We also explored whether sleep moderated the association between arterial stiffness and BPV. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 78 healthy adults aged between 35 and 64 years. Variables of interest were: 1) objective seep characteristics, assessed with a wrist actigraphy for two consecutive nights; 2) arterial stiffness, measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV); and 3) BPV, measured using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor over 24 h and estimated by average real variability. RESULTS: Lower sleep efficiency was an independent predictor of higher cfPWV and higher systolic BPV, while longer wake after sleep onset (WASO) was an independent predictor of higher cfPWV only. In addition, cfPWV showed a positive relationship with systolic BPV, and this relationship was moderated by sleep efficiency and WASO, respectively. The relationship between cfPWV and systolic BPV became stronger among individuals who had a level of sleep efficiency lower than 84% and who had WASO higher than 67 min, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that poor sleep not only directly linked with arterial stiffness and BPV but also moderated the relationship between these two subclinical CVDs. These findings suggest that improving sleep quality could be a target intervention to promote cardiovascular health in clinical practice.