Short Sleep Duration is Associated with Central Arterial Stiffness in Children Independent of Other Lifestyle Behaviors

Purpose Children require 9-11 h sleep to ensure adequate growth and development by optimizing the efficiency of a number of biological systems,including the cardiovascular system.The study aim was to determine whether short sleep duration(<9 h)is associated with elevated aortic arterial stiffness in children aged 9-11 years,independent of other lifestyle behav-iors,including physical activity,sedentary behaviour and dietary patterns.Methods This cross-sectional study included 421 children(51%female)aged 9-11 years.Aortic arterial stiffness was measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity(cfPWV),sleep duration,time spent sedentary,and moderate-vigorous physical activity were measured using wrist actigraphy,and dietary patterns using a food frequency questionnaire.Associa-tions between short sleep duration and cfPWV were examined using mixed effects regression.Results There was a positive[unadjusted]association between short sleep duration and cfPWV(β=0.245,95%CI 0.093-0.396).This association persisted following adjustment for demographic factors and was strengthened following adjustment for lifestyle behaviors(β=0.331,95%CI 0.109-0.553).Conclusions Short sleepers(<9 h)had a clinically meaningful elevated aortic arterial stiffness in comparison to those sleeping the recommended daily 9-11 h.Sleep duration may be important for cardiovascular health independent of other lifestyle behaviors.