A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association highlights the critical role of various dimensions of sleep health—such as duration, timing, quality, and daytime functioning—in influencing cardiometabolic health.

Key components of sleep health include not only duration and quality but also continuity, timing, satisfaction, and regularity, each uniquely contributing to overall well-being.

This statement aims to raise awareness about the complex relationship between sleep health and cardiovascular well-being.

The report underscores significant disparities in sleep health, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities, with Black adults facing the most severe challenges regarding sleep quality and continuity.

Socioeconomic and racial factors play a substantial role in these disparities, as historically underrepresented groups often report poorer sleep quality.

Irregular sleep patterns and social jetlag can elevate cardiovascular risks by 20%, highlighting the importance of maintaining consistent sleep schedules.

Social jetlag, which refers to inconsistent sleep patterns between weekdays and weekends, is linked to increased risks of obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Marie-Pierre St-Onge, Ph.D., chair of the writing group, emphasizes that most adults need between seven to nine hours of sleep per night, with inadequate sleep correlating to cognitive decline, depression, and obesity.

Sleeping less than seven hours or more than nine hours per night is associated with higher risks of atrial fibrillation and cardiometabolic syndrome, while poor sleep continuity is linked to heart attacks and high blood pressure.

Sleep satisfaction is crucial for overall health, as lower satisfaction levels are associated with higher blood pressure and increased risk of coronary heart disease.

Daytime functioning is essential; excessive daytime sleepiness is connected to cardiovascular diseases and can potentially be improved through weight loss and better sleep practices.

The statement concludes with a call for further research to explore the multifaceted aspects of sleep health and their effects on cardiometabolic outcomes, particularly among diverse populations.