The relationship between sleep onset time and cardiometabolic biomarkers in Chinese communities: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Late sleep onset time (SOT) is a common social phenomenon in modern society, and it was associated with a higher risk of obesity. However, the literature gap exists about the SOT and cardiometabolic biomarkers which closely associated with obesity. The present study aimed to explore the association of SOT with cardiometabolic biomarkers in Chinese communities.

Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled a total of 2418 participants was conducted in Ningxia province of China. The cardiometabolic biomarkers included triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and fasting plasma glucose were measured quantitatively using the standard method. The SOT and sleep duration were acquired by a self-report questionnaire. The multiple mixed-effect linear regression model was employed to examine the association.

Results: Binary analysis found an inverse association of SOT with high-density lipoprotein (β = - 0.05, 95%CI: - 0.06, - 0.03), with 1 h delayed in SOT the high-density lipoprotein decreased 0.05 mmol/L. After controlling for demographic variables, health-related behaviors, and physical health covariates, late SOT was associated with a higher level of triglyceride (β = 0.12, 95%CI: 0.06, 0.18), a higher level of low-density lipoprotein (β = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.09), and a lower level of high-density lipoprotein (β = - 0.05, 95% CI: - 0.06, - 0.03). when stratified by sleep duration (less than eight hours vs. eight and longer hours), a positive association between SOT and LDL (β = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.12) was found among participants with sleep duration eight hours and longer.

Conclusion: Late sleep onset time with the negative effect on the cardiometabolic biomarkers, and individuals with late SOT coupled with longer sleep duration may take risk of a higher level of low-density lipoprotein which in turn lead to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: Cross-sectional study; Fasting plasma glucose; High-density lipoprotein; Obesity; Sleep onset time; Triglyceride.

Fig. 1

The level of TG with the change of SOT. The level of TG (mmol/L) was increased with the delay of sleep onset time. The line represents the value of TG, the gray confidence intervals represent the 95% confidence intervals of TG

Fig. 2

The level of HDL with the change of SOT. The level of TG (mmol/L) was decreased with the delay of sleep onset time. The line represents the value of HDL; the gray confidence intervals represent the 95% confidence intervals of HDL