A large international study reveals a significant link between the severity of sleep apnea, measured over multiple nights with digital home devices, and accelerated vascular aging. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 30,000 adults, utilizing under-mattress sleep sensors and smart scales to measure pulse wave velocity (PWV), a key indicator of arterial stiffness.
The study found a clear dose-response relationship: as sleep apnea severity increased, so did PWV, indicating stiffer arteries. This association held true independently of age, sex, and body mass index. Notably, individuals with mild sleep apnea but significant night-to-night fluctuations in breathing disturbances showed PWV levels comparable to those with severe disease. Snoring burden also independently predicted higher PWV, even after accounting for sleep apnea severity.
These findings underscore the importance of multi-night digital monitoring in accurately assessing cardiovascular risk, suggesting that traditional single-night sleep studies may underestimate the true impact of sleep apnea. The scalable approach demonstrated by this research could lead to more personalized management strategies for slowing vascular aging and reducing long-term cardiovascular disease.