The Sleep Heart Health Study is a multi-center cohort study that has been implemented by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to determine cardiovascular and other consequences of sleep-disordered breathing. The study was motivated by the increasing recognition of the frequent occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing in the general population and mounting evidence that sleep-disordered breathing may increase risk for cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease and stroke, and for hypertension and may reduce quality of life generally. Many clinical questions remain unanswered concerning sleep-disordered breathing as well: for example, we lack insight as to the point in the natural history of the disorder when intervention is warranted; and, while effective treatments for some forms of sleep-disordered breathing have been developed, information is still needed on who is at risk from sleep-disordered breathing so that these treatments can be applied in a cost-effective manner. Such questions can best be addressed by longitudinal epidemiologic investigations that are conducted in a population context. The Sleep Heart Health Study, implemented to obtain these needed data, will test whether sleep-related breathing is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, all cause mortality, and hypertension.

Last Updated:

12 Oct 2007