Impact of Teen Sleep Patterns on Long-Term Cardiovascular Health

A recent study presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting reveals significant correlations between adolescent sleep patterns and cardiovascular health in young adulthood. Conducted by researchers from Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine, the analysis indicated that teenagers who maintained earlier, more efficient, and less variable sleep schedules at age 15 exhibited better cardiovascular health by age 22. The findings emphasize the importance of sleep habits during adolescence, suggesting that factors such as falling asleep and waking up earlier, spending less time in bed awake, and having lower variability in total sleep time contribute positively to long-term heart health.

The study analyzed longitudinal data from sub-studies of the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, involving a diverse sample of 307 adolescents, 57% of whom were female. Sleep patterns were assessed through one week of wrist actigraphy at age 15, while cardiovascular health was evaluated at age 22 using a composite score derived from seven non-sleep factors as outlined in the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8. These factors included self-reported diet, physical activity, and objectively measured body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure.

According to Dr. Gina Marie Mathew, lead data analyst and senior post-doctoral associate in public health at Stony Brook University, the study underscores a significant relationship between sleep health dimensions and cardiovascular outcomes. As she stated, "While total sleep time did not predict cardiovascular health, the complexity of sleep health is evident and warrants a focus on multiple sleep dimensions to promote cardiovascular wellness." The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that teenagers aged 13 to 18 should sleep 8 to 10 hours regularly, highlighting the need for not just quantity, but quality and timing of sleep.

The implications of these findings are critical, as they suggest that interventions promoting healthy sleep habits among adolescents could lead to better heart health outcomes in later life. This research aligns with the increasing recognition of sleep as a vital component of overall health and well-being. Future recommendations should focus on enhancing sleep hygiene practices among teenagers, with particular emphasis on early sleep timing and minimizing sleep variability. The study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the integral role of sleep in cardiovascular health and highlights the need for further research to explore these relationships in depth.

This research was made possible through grants from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development within the National Institutes of Health. The abstract of this study was published in the journal Sleep and is set to be presented during the SLEEP 2025 meeting in Seattle, organized by the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, which unites the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.