title: Self-reported sleep impairment and the metabolic syndrome among African Americans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  African Americans (AA) experience a high mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), even without an increase in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The potential role of sleep impairment in this phenomenon has not been studied. The current study examined the relationship between self-reported sleep and MetS components among AAs. Sleep variables included total sleep quality and specific symptoms: loud snoring, difficulty breathing, and sleep duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anthropometric (BMI, BP, waist circumference, body fat percent) and biologic (fasting glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and HDL) measures were obtained from 248 community-recruited AA (63% female; mean age 44 years). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a 19-item scale with a total sleep quality score and 7 subscales, was used to assess self-reported sleep quality. Analyses were controlled for age and sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PSQI total sleep quality predicted neither presence of MetS (Beta=.04, P=.29) nor individual CVD variables. However, symptomatic snoring corresponded with MetS (Beta=.38, SE=.12, P<.001; OR: 2.57), as well as with fasting glucose, BMI, body fat percentage, and waist circumference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among AA, overall sleep quality as self-reported may not contribute to MetS, but symptomatic snoring appears to be important. Further work in this area should focus on sleep at the symptomatic level, and include racial and sex variables, as well as physiologic and etiologic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA. josh.kazman@usuhs.mil
authors.forename: Josh Ben
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kazman
authors.forename: Preetha Anna
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Stacey Anne
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zeno
authors.forename: Merrily
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poth
authors.forename: Patricia Anne
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Deuster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000208:ethnology*; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult