PWV was significantly negatively correlated with total sleep time in young African American adults, with the effect accounted for by males in the sample, suggesting sleep duration may be a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular health.
Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was significantly negatively correlated with total sleep time in young African American adults.
Central systolic pressure (CSP) was correlated with age and BMI but not with any sleep measures.
The effect of total sleep time on PWV was accounted for by the male participants in the sample.
The study employed an ecologically valid methodology, measuring sleep and cardiovascular outcomes in participants' home environments.
The authors conclude that sleep duration may be a modifiable risk factor for improving cardiovascular health.
This research suggests that in young African American adults, sleeping less is associated with stiffer arteries, as measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV) — a well-established marker of cardiovascular risk. The study tracked sleep using wrist-worn devices in participants' own homes and measured arterial stiffness in the morning shortly after waking, making the findings particularly relevant to real-world conditions. Notably, blood pressure-related measures (central systolic pressure) were linked to age and body weight but not to how long people slept. When the researchers looked more closely at who was driving the sleep-arterial stiffness connection, they found the association was mainly present in the male participants. This is interesting because a previous study found the opposite — that the sleep-arterial elasticity relationship was stronger in women. This discrepancy points to a need for more research to understand whether and how sex differences influence the relationship between sleep and heart health. This research matters because it adds to growing evidence that sleep duration could be a practical, changeable target for reducing cardiovascular disease risk. African Americans are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease and also tend to experience shorter and less restful sleep on average. Studies like this, conducted in real-world home settings rather than sleep labs, help build the case that improving sleep habits could be a meaningful strategy for protecting heart health in this population.
Sheriff P, Boyd K, Lavela P, Sandhu I, Mellman T. (2026). Ecologically Assessed Sleep Duration and Pulse Wave Velocity in Young Adult African Americans.. Biopsychosocial science and medicine. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001455