Poor sleep quality increases hypertension by 1.29-fold in Ibadan, environs — Study

Experts have reported that adults resident in Ibadan and its suburbs with poor sleep quality have 1.29 times higher chances of developing hypertension and called for the implementation of culturally sensitive interventions to improve sleep quality and manage hypertension in adults resident in the population.

Researchers, in a study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension, indicated that poor sleep quality is associated with higher odds of hypertension, with an odds ratio of 1.29 for those with poor sleep quality compared to those with good sleep quality.

The study had included 3,635 participants in an ongoing door-to-door community-based investigation of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in Ibadan (COMBAT-CVDs) study to assess the risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Ibadan and its suburbs.

In the study, which involved Olufemi Gbolahan Aremu, Osahon Jeffery Asowata, David Kadan Danladi, Akinkunmi Paul Okekunle and Onoja Matthew Akpa, sleep quality was self-reported, and sleep quality of the participants was classified as good, moderate, and poor.

Hypertension was defined as having a systolic (top number) blood pressure more than 140 mmHg or diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure more than 90 mmHg or prior diagnosis by a certified health professional or current use of blood pressure-lowering drugs.

Among the participants, 32.5% reported poor sleep quality and 24.8% had hypertension, illustrating the prevalence of these issues within the studied population.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, accounting for half of all cases of heart failure globally. Hypertension is a growing concern in Nigeria and globally, with a global prevalence of 31.1%, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and a national prevalence of 30.6% according to a systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in 2021.

Poor sleep quality is associated with higher blood pressure levels and reduced odds of achieving blood pressure control. This relationship underscores the importance of integrating sleep assessments into hypertension management strategies.

The American Heart Association recommends that adults get seven to nine hours of nightly sleep to promote optimal heart and brain health based on prior research that found people who get less than six hours of sleep per night on average face a much higher risk for high blood pressure, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.

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Experts think that sleep helps the body control hormones needed to control stress and metabolism. Over time, a lack of sleep could cause swings in hormones. Hormone changes can lead to high blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease.

Other studies also found an association between poor sleep quality and increased risk of other physical diseases such as obesity, coronary artery disease, and psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety.