Sleep quality and cardiovascular risk in the watch setting in the Far North

Background. The study shows gender differences in sleep quality and also association of sleep disturbances (SD) with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The watch work contributes to the biorhythms of the body disorders, including SD. Autonomous nervous system is the key regulator of circadian rhythms.Aim: To study sleep quality (SQ) in the gender aspect and cardiovascular risk in the workers of the Far North watch.Material and methods. In Yamburg, the settlement in the Far North (68° 21’ 40” north latitude), 99 males (M) and 81 females (F) with SD and normal sleep, comparable in age, northern experience, level of office blood pressure (BP) were examined. SQ analysis was conducted according to the questionnaire (Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index - PSQI). 24-hour BP monitoring, biochemical blood analysis, ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries, echocardiography, and assessment of autonomic changes was performed.Results. M significantly more often than F assessed their sleep subjectively better (p = 0.046); M and F with SD had elevated variability of systolic BP at night (p = 0.036; p = 0.039), BP 24-hour profile disorder did not depend on SQ (p = 0.2607), SD in both genders was accompanied by the increase of volumes and indices of left atrium (p = 0.0285; p = 0.0445), enhanced probability of left ventricle diastolic dysfunction for 1.9 times. SD in F enhanced the level of insulin (p = 0.0267), С-peptide (p = 0.0424), NTpro-BNP (p = 0.042) and was accompanied by autonomic dysfunction.Conclusion. In the conditions of the Arctic watch, SD is often revealed in F, is accompanied by the signs of autonomic dysfunction, more evident in F. 24-hour BP profile disorder typical for the watch work is not connected with SQ and more evident in M. SD in both genders is associated with atrial remodeling, the formation of diastolic dysfunction, but an increase in the frequency of atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid arteries, an increase in vascular inflammation factors, metabolic disorders, and neurohumoral activation, more pronounced in F, which may determine an increased risk of CVD in F in Arctic watch work conditions.