Sleep duration and history of stroke among adults from the USA

Abstract

Although short sleep duration is related to chronic conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity, the association with stroke is less well known. Using 2006-2011 National Health Interview Surveys, we assessed the association between self-reported duration of sleep and prevalence of stroke stratifying by age and sex. Of the 154 599 participants aged 18 years or older, 29.2%, 61.8% and 9.0% reported they sleep ≤6, 7-8 and ≥9 h per day, respectively. Corresponding age-standardized prevalence of stroke were 2.78%, 1.99% and 5.21% (P < 0.001). Logistic regression models showed a higher prevalence of stroke among those who slept ≤6 or ≥9 h a day compared with those who slept 7-8 h, after adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioural and health characteristics. Further stratifying by age and sex showed that the association of duration of sleep and stroke differed among different age or sex groups. Among young adults (18-44 years), a higher prevalence of stroke was found among women with short sleep. Higher prevalence of stroke was found among middle-aged men and women reporting short or long sleep duration. Among older adults (≥65 years), higher prevalence of stroke was found only among those who slept ≥9 h. In this national sample of adults, the association between duration of sleep and stroke varied by sex and age. Although there was an association of short sleep duration with stroke, we also observed the association of long sleep duration with stroke, especially among those aged 65 years or older.