Sleep, Autonomic Nervous Function and Atherosclerosis.

Manabu Kadoya,Hidenori Koyama

doi:10.3390/ijms20040794

Manabu Kadoya, Hidenori Koyama

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20040794

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Abstract

Behavioral and psychosocial factors related to development of cardiovascular disease have been gaining increased attention. Notably, sleep is considered to be one of the most important behavioral factors involved in progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events, with autonomic nervous function a potential mechanism. Several studies have shown associations of sleep and autonomic dysfunction with major surrogate markers of atherosclerosis, such as carotid intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness. Endocrinological, immunological, oxidative, inflammatory, and metabolic responses, as well as endothelial dysfunction may mediate the effects of the autonomic nervous system. For this review, we examined recent findings related to sleep, autonomic nervous dysfunction, and atherosclerosis, with the aim of understanding the involved pathophysiological mechanisms.

Highlights

Classical cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease (CKD), are established predictors of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) [1,2,3]
It has been shown that short sleep duration, low sleep quality, and autonomic nervous dysfunction are associated with several risk factors for atherogenesis, including endocrinological, immunological, oxidative, inflammatory, and metabolic responses, as well as endothelial dysfunction
Hyogo Sleep Cardio-Autonomic Atherosclerosis (HSCAA) study with a relatively large number of patients (n = 330) with cardiovascular risk factors, we showed that apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) assessed by an apnomonitor and poor sleep quality

Summary

Introduction

Classical cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease (CKD), are established predictors of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) [1,2,3]. Potential mechanisms associated with short sleep duration and low sleep quality include autonomic nervous function, and a previous study showed a strong association between those in a general population [6]. It has been shown that short sleep duration, low sleep quality, and autonomic nervous dysfunction are associated with several risk factors for atherogenesis, including endocrinological, immunological, oxidative, inflammatory, and metabolic responses, as well as endothelial dysfunction.

Results

Conclusion