ObjectiveSleep-disordered breathing is associated with hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Increased aortic stiffness is one possible linking mechanism. We evaluated the association between sleep-disordered breathing and aortic stiffness in a community-based sample. MethodsOur community-based cross-sectional observational study included 381 participants from the Framingham Heart Study (55% women, mean age 58.0 S.D. = 9.4 years, 51% ethnic minorities). Polysomnographically derived apnea–hypopnea index and CT90% (cumulative % sleep time with oxyhemoglobin saturation <90%) quantified sleep-disordered breathing severity. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, the gold-standard measure of aortic stiffness, was calculated using arterial applanation tonometry-derived waveforms and body surface measured transit distance. We assessed associations between sleep-disordered breathing and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity using multivariable regression. We adjusted for age, sex, race, body mass index, diabetes, alcohol consumption, hormone replacement therapy, cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein, lipid-lowering therapy, anti-hypertensive medication, smoking, hypertension, and prevalent cardiovascular disease. ResultsAfter multivariable adjustment, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was associated with both apnea–hypopnea index (β = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.002–0.07, p = 0.04) and CT90% (β = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.005–0.1, p = 0.03). The adjusted mean carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was 9.43 (95% CI: 9.12–9.74), 9.76 (95% CI: 9.25–10.26), and 10.15 (95% CI: 9.37–10.92) m/s, respectively, in subjects with apnea–hypopnea index <5, 5–14.9, and ≥15 events/h. ConclusionsIn a community-based sample of middle aged and older men and women, sleep-disordered breathing was associated with increased carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, a strong predictor of cardiovascular risk.