Childhood adversity is associated with heightened inflammation after sleep loss

Objectives: To investigate whether childhood adversity exacerbates the relationship between sleep restriction and inflammation. Methods: Participants (N = 46) were randomly assigned to an experimental sleep restriction group (n = 25) or a night of typical sleep (n = 21). Participants provided a dried blood spot sample the morning before and after the experimental night.Results: A significant interaction emerged between childhood adversity and group assignment on C-reactive protein (CRP) after the experimental night (Beta = -0.02, SE = 0.01, P = .03, 95% CI: -0.05, -0.002). Sleep restriction resulted in an increase in CRP at high levels of childhood adversity (+1 SD; Effect = -0.57, SE = 0.15, P< .001; 95% CI: -0.87, -0.26) but not low levels of childhood adversity (Effect = -0.08, SE = 0.10, P = .40; 95% CI: -0.29, 0.12).Conclusion: Childhood adversity may amplify the effect of sleep loss on markers of inflammation.(c) 2022 National Sleep Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigated whether childhood adversity exacerbates the relationship between sleep restriction and inflammation. The results indicate that childhood adversity may amplify the effect of sleep loss on markers of inflammation.