The pulse of sleep: novel interventions in understanding the sleep-cardiovascular connection: a literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep disorders represent common complaints in different medical illnesses. They encompass a risk for diverse inflammatory, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases. Sleep disorders include disorders of hypersomnolence, insomnia, parasomnias, sleep-related movement disorders, circadian rhythm sleep-wake-disorders, and sleep-related breathing disorders, each one of which was associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk in a different mechanism. In this review, the authors address the most recent research on the correlation between sleep and CVD. Methods: The literature on sleep disorders and their potential links to various cardiovascular diseases was reviewed in narrative form. For the published papers up to June 2023, the authors searched the databases of PubMed and Google Scholar. Literature demonstrating the relationship between these illnesses, pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnosis, and various therapeutic approaches was included. Results: Sleep disorders were significantly linked to heart rate variability, hypertension, and obesity, which can eventually result in cardiovascular consequences and affect mortality and morbidity. The disruption in sleep cycles, which can be noticed in different sleep disorders, can obviously result in blood pressure, heart rate, and other cardiac functions. The clinical assessment acts as the cornerstone in the diagnosis of different spectrums of sleep disorders. The management of sleep disorders ranges from cognitive-behavioral therapy to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Conclusion: Additional research on the topic is needed to pinpoint any potential links and pathological processes. To improve clinical treatment and preventive measures, further observational studies should emphasize the reliability of early diagnostic signs.