Top in cardiology: Less sleep linked to hypertension; benefits of taking the stairs

Adults who typically sleep fewer than 7 hours per night were more likely to develop hypertension over time, and women were at greater risk than men, according to a report at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.

Researchers analyzed 16 cohort studies published from 2000 to May 2023 that evaluated the association between self-reported sleep deprivation and hypertension incidence in more than 1 million adults who did not have hypertension at baseline.

“While the association between short sleep duration and hypertension risk was not entirely surprising based on existing literature, the degree of risk, especially for females, was notable,” Aayushi Sood, MD, a resident at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education in Scranton, Pennsylvania, told Healio. “The higher risk for women compared with men may be attributed to several factors, including hormonal differences, variations in neurohormonal responses to sleep patterns, and potential interactions with other CV risk factors that may affect females differently.”

It was the top story in cardiology last week.

In another top story, taking the stairs was associated with a reduced risk for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, according to a meta-analysis of studies involving more than 400,000 participants.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

Short sleep may raise blood pressure, with greater risk for women

Adults who sleep fewer than 7 hours per night are more likely to develop hypertension over time, with greater risk observed for women vs. men, researchers reported. Read more.

Climbing stairs reduces risk for all-cause, cardiovascular death

In a meta-analysis of studies covering more than 400,000 people, climbing stairs was associated with reduced risk for all-cause mortality and death from heart disease. Read more.

Genes may play role in heart attack risk during stressful times

Adults genetically predisposed to high stress are more likely to have a heart attack during times of heightened stress, such as a major holiday or after a presidential election, researchers reported. Read more.

Q&A: Javed Butler, MD, MPH, MBA, discusses the current heart failure medication landscape

Few areas in cardiology are as active as development and implementation of medical therapies for heart failure, and few people are as familiar with that landscape as Javed Butler, MD, MPH, MBA, FACC, FAHA, FESC. Read more.

Comment period opens on creation of independent certification board of CV medicine

Progress has been made in the creation of a new independent Board of Cardiovascular Medicine under the American Board of Medical Specialties, several cardiology societies announced. Read more.