Sex-specific associations between extreme sleep duration and prevalence of cardio-cerebral vascular disease: a community-based cross-sectional study

Most previous studies on sleep duration and cardio-cerebral vascular disease (CCVD) association have not adequately controlled for many confounders. The current study prospectively examined the association of sleep duration with CCVD prevalence in a Chinese community population; cardiovascular risk factors, chronic diseases, and sleep quality were taken into consideration. A cross-sectional study conducted in Pudong New Area of Shanghai, China. Through three-stage sampling, 10,657 adults aged ≥15 years were randomly selected. Self-reported sleep duration and CCVD prevalence were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Medical records of the subjects were reviewed by investigators for further confirmation. Relationships between sleep duration and CCVD prevalence were examined using logistic regression models. Compared to midrange sleep duration (7 h), the multivariate-adjusted OR of CCVD prevalence was 1.550 (95% CI 1.192–2.017) for sleeping 5 h, 1.427 (95% CI 0.983–2.072) for sleeping 9 h. In an analysis stratified by sex, participants with a long sleep duration (>9 h) demonstrated significantly increased prevalence (OR = 3.623, 95% CI 1.862–7.052) for stroke only in men. The relationship between extreme sleep durations and CCVD were influenced by sex in a Chinese community population. Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms of the association between extreme sleep duration and CCVD, as well as sex-specificity in the relationship. •Shorter sleep duration was associated with higher cardio-cerebral vascular disease (CCVD) prevalence in both sexes.•Longer sleep duration was associated with higher stroke prevalence in males.•This epidemiological investigation was conducted in a Chinese community population.