Total Sleep Deprivation Does Not Adversely Affect Arterial Stiffness, Wave Reflection and Aortic Pressure in Young Healthy Men

Abstract

Sleep deprivation is a common problem and may contribute to increased risk for development of cardiovascular disease. The influence of sleep deprivation on arterial stiffness, wave reflection and aortic pressure, independent predictors of cardiovascular disease, has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of total sleep deprivation (TSD) on arterial stiffness, wave reflection and aortic pressure in young healthy men. Twelve participants (22 ± 1 yrs, means ± SE) completed this study. Participants were free of clinical disease and sleep disorders, and did not use tobacco products, or take medications. Arterial stiffness (carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity; cfPWV), wave reflection (aortic augmentation index; AIx), and aortic blood pressures (systolic and diastolic blood pressure; aoSBP and aoDBP, and pulse pressure aoPP) were assessed using a validated cuff‐based device (SphygmoCor XCEL, AtCor Medical). Measures were obtained at the same time in the morning following a night of regular sleep (CON) and a night of TSD. During TSD, participants rested quietly under supervision and abstained from caffeine for ≥20 hrs. The average duration of sleep deprivation was 26.3 ± 1.3 hrs. In response to TSD, cfPWV did not significantly change (6.6 ± 0.2 vs. 6.4 ± 0.2 m·s−1; CON vs. TSD; P = 0.1). Aortic pressures (aoSBP: 104 ± 2 vs. 105 ± 2 mmHg; aoDBP: 69 ± 2 vs. 71 ± 3 mmHg; and aoPP: 34 ± 2 vs. 34 ± 1 mmHg; P≥0.5) and AIx also remained unchanged in response to TSD (9 ± 3 vs. 5 ± 2 %; P = 0.1). In conclusion, TSD does not adversely affect arterial stiffness, wave reflection or aortic pressure in young healthy men. Future investigations should explore the influence of TSD in populations at high risk for developing cardiovascular disease.Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported by the Gatorade Trust through funds distributed by the University of Florida, Department of Medicine.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.