Sleep and Circadian Disturbance in Cardiovascular Risk

Purpose of Review We discuss the relationship between sleep and circadian factors with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, including physiologic, behavioral, and psychological mechanisms along this pathway. Recent Findings The relationship between short and long sleep duration, as well as insomnia, with CVD risk is well-established. Recent work has highlighted how other sleep factors, such as sleep regularity (i.e., consistency of sleep timing), multidimensional sleep health, and circadian factors like chronotype and social jetlag, relate to CVD risk. Sleep-focused interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and sleep extension) may be effective to reduce CVD risk and disease burden. Sleep is increasingly recognized as an integral component of cardiovascular health. This was underscored by the recent inclusion of sleep duration as a health behavior in the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 for defining optimal cardiovascular health.

Automated summary

There is a relationship between sleep and circadian factors with cardiovascular disease risk. Sleep duration, insomnia, sleep regularity, multidimensional sleep health, and circadian factors like chronotype and social jetlag are all related to cardiovascular disease risk. Interventions focusing on sleep can help reduce cardiovascular disease risk and burden. Sleep is recognized as an integral component of cardiovascular health.