In a recent study, researchers found that genetically predicted insomnia, short sleep duration, and frequent daytime napping significantly increased the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Hao Zhao, of Sun Yat-sen University, and colleagues utilized two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses to explore the causal relationships between multidimensional sleep traits and five cardiovascular diseases (CVDs): coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation (AF), and stroke.

Published in Open Heart, results indicated that insomnia was associated with increased risks of CAD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.47), MI (OR = 1.55), and HF (OR = 1.31).

Conversely, longer sleep duration was linked to decreased risks of CAD (OR = 0.88), MI (OR = 0.89), and HF (OR = 0.90). The effects of insomnia and short sleep on CAD, MI, and HF were partially mediated by major depressive disorder (MDD): mediation proportions ranged from 8.81% to 14.46%.

The researchers also noted that insomnia and short sleep were associated with increased risks of MDD (OR = 2.07 for insomnia; OR = 1.83 for short sleep), while being a morning person was linked to a decreased risk of MDD (OR = 0.74).

They utilized publicly available genome-wide association study data, including a sample size of 59,851 MDD cases and 113,154 controls, as well as 60,801 CAD cases and 123,504 controls. 

"Considering sleep traits and MDD in the prevention and screening of CVDs" is important, the researchers wrote. "Health policies should emphasize early detection and treatment of MDD in [patients] with poor sleep patterns to mitigate CVD risks."

Disclosures can be found in the published research.