The Impact of Sleep Patterns and Abdominal Fat on Heart Health in Older Adults
As we age, maintaining heart health becomes increasingly vital. Recent research has shed light on how sleep duration and abdominal fat, specifically measured by the Weight-Adjusted Waist Index (WWI), interact to influence cardiovascular risk in older adults. The WWI is a metric that assesses central obesity by considering waist circumference relative to body weight, offering a nuanced view of fat distribution.
The study observed that individuals with persistently short sleep durations coupled with high WWI values faced the greatest risk of developing cardiovascular issues. This combination was more detrimental than either factor alone, suggesting a synergistic effect. In contrast, those maintaining adequate sleep and lower WWI values exhibited a reduced risk, highlighting the protective nature of healthy sleep patterns and optimal fat distribution.
These findings underscore the importance of holistic lifestyle approaches in promoting heart health among the elderly. Prioritizing sufficient sleep and managing abdominal fat through balanced nutrition and regular physical activity can be pivotal strategies. By addressing both sleep habits and central obesity, older adults can proactively reduce their cardiovascular risk and enhance overall well-being.
Article Information
Co-occurring sleep duration and weight-adjusted waist index and their associations with cardiovascular risk in older adults: a group-based dual-trajectory modeling study
Published in European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. By Yaqi Wang et al.
Abstract
Aim: Although sleep duration and weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) are recognized CVD risk factors in older adults, the individual and dual trajectories of these factors and their associations with CVD risk remain unclear. We aim to investigate these associations using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS).
Methods and results: We included 3,313 older adults without hypertension, heart disease, or stroke in 2011 and assessed sleep duration, WWI, and CVD incidence in 2011, 2014, and 2018. Group-based dual trajectory modeling and logistic regression were used for analysis. All data were analyzed in 2024. Three trajectories of sleep duration (Low-Stable, Normal-Stable, High-Increasing) and two trajectories of WWI (Normal-Increasing, High-Increasing) were identified, along with their six dual trajectories. Compared to the "Normal-Increasing WWI & Normal-Stable sleep duration" pattern, the "High-Increasing WWI & Low-Stable sleep duration" pattern was associated with an increased risk of any one type of CVD (OR=1.25, 95% CI 1.03-1.83), the "Normal-Increasing WWI & Low-Stable sleep duration" pattern was associated with an increased risk of any two types of CVD (OR=1.58, 95% CI 1.06-2.36), and the "Normal-Increasing WWI & High-Increasing sleep duration" pattern was associated with an increased risk of all three types of CVD (OR=4.48, 95% CI 1.44-13.94).
Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of nursing professionals considering both sleep duration and WWI trajectories when assessing CVD risk in older adults, supporting the implementation of multi-point monitoring and targeted joint interventions to mitigate CVD risk in this population.
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