Abstract
Disturbed sleep could be associated with adverse health effects including a potentially increased risk for cardiovascular disease. However, there is a dearth of research on this topic among aging Indians, particularly from rural areas. This study aimed to cross-sectionally examine the relationship between self-reported sleep disturbance (assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and cardiovascular risk (assessed using the Framingham Cardiovascular Risk Score) in a large sample (n = 2838) of aging, non-demented, Indians from the villages of Srinivaspura (Karnataka) in southern India. Linear regression models were used to assess the above association, adjusting for potential confounders, such as age, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), tobacco use, alcohol use, depression and number of comorbidities. We found that in the fully adjusted model, subjects with moderate-to-severe sleep disturbance had twice the odds of CVD risk as compared to those with no sleep disturbance (AOR: 2.17, CI:1.14–4.13). Early identification and management of sleep disturbance using lifestyle management, better sleep hygiene and in some cases, medication could be a cost-effective, public health strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk.