Sleep quantity and quality and cardiometabolic risk factors in Indigenous Australians

Abstract

A gap in life expectancy of up to 21 years exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people (WHO, 2007), which is thought to be attributed to a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in higher income countries (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), 2015). In the context of cardiometabolic health, disparities in health driven by social inequality, colonization, historical trauma and discrimination have

Sleep health and its implications in First Nation Australians: A systematic review

“…The association between sleep duration and BMI was not significant but a possible dose-response relationship was evident Yiallourou et al. 32 245 First Nations (43% male) Participants of the Better First Nations Risk stratification for Cardiac Health (BIRCH) cohort 45 ± 13 y Cross-sectional, convenience sample recruited from Aboriginal communities in in the Northern Territory and Queensland Actigraphy ( n = 46) and a validated questionnaire to assess daytime sleepiness measured through Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) Prevalence of short sleep and sleep problems in First Nations Australians, and their association with cardio-metabolic Risk Over one‐third of participants obtained sleep < 7 hr/night and experienced poor‐quality sleep, with 27% reporting severe daytime sleepiness (ESS score > 10) and a high number of objectively measured awakenings/night (6 ± 4). Short sleep duration was an independent predictor of diastolic (β = 5.37, p = .038) and systolic blood pressure (β = 14.30, p = .048), night‐time awakenings were associated with increased glycated haemoglobin levels (β = 0.07, p = .020) and greater sleep fragmentation was associated with lower high‐density lipoprotein levels (β = −0.01, p = .025).…”

“…A total of nine studies focusing on sleep issues in First Nations Australian adults were conducted in Australia. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 Of these nine studies, three were community-based, 25 , 29 , 32 and the remaining six were based on diagnostic sleep studies. All three community-based studies were cross-sectional.…”

“…All three community-based studies were cross-sectional. In the community-based studies total sample size ranged from 245 to 646 participants, 25 , 32 whereas in the sleep clinic based studies, the sample size ranged from 91 to 403 participants. 27 , 28 Only three studies 20 , 22 , 24 included non-Indigenous participants for comparison purposes.…”

“…Most studies used self-reports in community-based studies, with only one reported study using actigraphy. 32 One study used Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) to assess daytime sleepiness, 32 but acknowledging that the ESS has not been validated in First Nations Australian populations. All community-based studies explored sleep duration; 25 , 29 , 32 two studies explored problematic sleep patterns, 20 , 24 and one study explored daytime sleepiness.…”

“…All community-based studies explored sleep duration; 25 , 29 , 32 two studies explored problematic sleep patterns, 20 , 24 and one study explored daytime sleepiness. 32 …”