Purpose of review: Sleep is an essential component of human health, and suboptimal sleep duration has been associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This review summarizes physiological and pathological effects of sleep duration on the cardiovascular system.
Recent findings: Both decreased and increased duration of sleep lead to increased cardiovascular mortality and has a U-shaped curve. Sleep apnea is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and hypertension, and its treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) results in increased survival. Estimated sleep duration of 6-8 h is associated with decreased mortality and major cardiovascular events and should be addressed by clinicians during routine visits.
Keywords: Cardiovascular; Mortality; Sleep; Sleep duration.