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Researchers have identified a potential new metric for assessing cardiovascular risk: disruption in delta wave activity during sleep. A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that lower delta wave entropy during sleep may serve as a useful marker for identifying individuals at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality.
Led by Dr. Sizhi Ai from the Center for Sleep and Circadian Medicine at Guangzhou Medical University, China, an international team of researchers analyzed data from two large-scale studies: the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) and the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study Sleep study (MrOS). Their analysis involved 4058 participants from SHHS and 2193 participants from MrOS, focusing on delta wave activity during sleep as measured by overnight polysomnograms.
Uncovering the Link Between Sleep and Cardiovascular Health
Over an extensive follow-up period of 11 years in SHHS and 15.5 years in MrOS, the researchers observed a significant association between lower delta wave entropy during sleep and an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality. Participants with disrupted delta wave activity exhibited a higher incidence of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular-related deaths.
The findings held true even after adjusting for various covariates, suggesting that low delta wave entropy could independently predict long-term cardiovascular risk. Importantly, traditional Cox regression models and advanced machine learning prediction methods both indicated that low delta wave entropy outperformed conventional measures of sleep quality in predicting cardiovascular outcomes.
Implications for Clinical Practice
Dr. Ai and his team propose that incorporating low delta wave entropy into standard clinical sleep medicine software could provide clinicians with a valuable tool for assessing cardiovascular risk in their patients. By identifying individuals with disrupted delta wave activity, healthcare providers may be able to intervene early and potentially mitigate the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Moreover, the researchers highlighted the possibility of enhancing delta wave activity through auditory stimulation during sleep as a potential intervention strategy. However, they emphasized the need for further research to validate this approach and determine its efficacy in improving cardiovascular health for individuals with sleep disturbances.
Looking Ahead
While the study sheds light on the promising role of delta wave activity in predicting cardiovascular risk, it is not without its limitations. Dr. Tianyi Huang from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, cautioned that more research is needed to establish whether disrupted delta entropy is merely a risk marker or a causative factor for cardiovascular disease. Additionally, understanding the dose-response relationships and long-term patterns of delta wave activity will be crucial in evaluating its relationship with chronic disease risk.
Despite these limitations, the study marks a significant step forward in our understanding of the intricate relationship between sleep and cardiovascular health. With further investigation, delta wave entropy could emerge as a valuable tool in identifying and managing cardiovascular risk in clinical practice.
Disclosure: Dr. Ai’s research was supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China and the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship program by the China Association for Science and Technology.
