Age and gender effects on the association of sleep insufficiency with hypertension among adults in Greece.

Abstract

Background: We aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep characteristics with hypertension using self-reported questionnaires. Material & methods:A total of957 adults were classified into three groups (short [<6h], normal [6-8h] and long [>8h] sleepers). Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90mmHg or use of antihypertensive medication at the time of interview. Results: Overall prevalence of hypertension was 34.3%. Association between short sleep duration and hypertension that was age-specific, present only among younger and middle aged individuals and sparing the elderly, but not gender-specific, as no discrepancies existed between males and females in all age groups, was evident. Conclusion: This study promotes early pharmacological or cognitive behavioral interventions on sleep disturbances in order to reduce hypertension burden.