Effect of five nights of sleep extension on peripheral vascular function: a randomized crossover investigation into long sleep duration

Long sleep duration, defined as ≥9 h, is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. We sought to determine the effect of sleep extension on peripheral vascular health. Twelve middle-aged adults were randomly assigned to spend five nights with 8 h (control) or 10+ hours time in bed (TIB) in a crossover fashion. Sleep was assessed using wrist actigraphy. Peak reactive hyperemia in the forearm was measured using venous-occlusion plethysmography as an index of microvascular vasodilation. Nighttime and morning blood pressure was recorded along with pulse wave velocity (arterial stiffness). Average sleep duration was 7.1 ± 0.3 and 9.3 ± 0.3 h for 8 and 10+ hours TIB (P < 0.001), respectfully. On average, sleep was extended by 127 ± 29 min with nine participants reaching average sleep durations >9 h. Extended sleep did not change nighttime or morning blood pressure, or pulse wave velocity (all P > 0.05). In contrast, peak forearm vascular conductance (FVC, 0.27 ± 0.08 vs. 0.23 ± 0.07 ml/100 ml/min/mmHg, P = 0.02) and total excess blood flow (28 ± 9 vs. 24 ± 11 ml/100 ml, P < 0.01) were increased following sleep extension. The change in FVC and total excess blood flow were inversely correlated with the change in wake after sleep onset and TIB (both r = −0.62, P < 0.05), but not with sleep duration. These results demonstrate that extended time in bed accompanied by long sleep durations does not impair peripheral vascular function, but rather, may increase microvasculature vasodilatory capacity in midlife adults.