BMI, Sleep Architecture, and Glucose Metabolism: Insights From the Baependi Heart Study

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether (1) sleep architecture is associated with BMI groups in the absence of sleep apnea and (2) BMI group modified associations between sleep architecture and markers of glucose metabolism. Methods: The Baependi Heart Study (BHS) is a family-based observational study of adults that assessed sleep using at-home polysomnography (PSG) and collected anthropometric and fasting blood measures. BMI was classified into: 18.5 to < 25, 25 to < 30, and ≥ 30 kg/m2. People with moderate–severe sleep apnea and taking diabetes-related medication were excluded. Cross-sectional associations were examined (n = 1014). Results: Individuals with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 had less REM sleep (−7.8 min, p = 0.003) and the groups with BMI 25 to < 30 kg/m2 and ≥ 30 kg/m2 had higher apnea-hypopnea index than individuals with BMI 18.5 to < 25 kg/m2 (by 0.8 and 1.4 events per hour, respectively, p