Abstract

Abstract Introduction Paradigm shifts in sleep research suggest the importance of considering multi-dimensional sleep health, compared to single metrics, to promote physical and mental well-being and to understand racial/ethnic disparities in sleep. Methods We used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA; n = 1,740) to create a Sleep Health Score (SHS), including questionnaire (quality, sleepiness); 7-day actigraphy (total sleep time, sleep continuity [sleep maintenance efficiency], timing consistency [midpoint variability], fragmentation, wake after sleep onset, sleep onset latency); and in-home polysomnography (%N3 sleep, %REM sleep, AHI). Sleep parameters were dichotomized based on prior literature or by healthiest quartile(s), with positive values denoting healthier sleep (e.g. Epworth scores < 10). All 11 dichotomized parameters were summed to calculate the SHS (mean=4.9, sd=1.58). We used modified Poisson and linear regression for individual sleep outcomes and the SHS, respectively, adjusting for age and sex. Results The sample was older (mean age=68.28, sd=9.08) and 54% female. SHSs were associated with Black race (β=-0.60 [-0.78, -0.42]) and Hispanic ethnicity (β=-0.40 [-0.59, -0.21]), but not Chinese ethnicity (β=-0.16 [-0.41, 0.08]). Compared to Whites (n=644), Blacks (n=485) showed lower adjusted probability of obtaining favorable levels of: sleep continuity, fragmentation, timing consistency, alertness/sleepiness, and sleep depth (%N3 sleep). Chinese respondents (n=202) had lower probability of obtaining favorable levels of: sleep continuity and timing consistency, but higher probability of quality. Hispanics (n=409) had lower probability of obtaining healthy levels of: sleep continuity, timing consistency, and fragmentation. Neither healthy total sleep time (middle quartiles) nor AHI (<30) differed by race/ethnicity. Conclusion Among MESA-Sleep participants, summary SHSs were lowest in Blacks, followed by Hispanics. Multiple dimensions of sleep - particularly related to continuity and timing consistency - were less favorable across race/ethnic minority groups. A summary SHS may help monitor sleep health across populations, while measurement of specific sleep components may help identify modifiable targets. Support Joon Chung is supported by a T-32 NIH training grant.

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