ROLE OF SLEEP QUALITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY-STAGE HYPERTENSION AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

Background: Sleep plays a crucial role in cardiovascular regulation. Emerging evidence suggests that poor sleep quality may contribute to elevated blood pressure, particularly in younger populations.  Objective: To assess the relationship between sleep quality and the development of early-stage hypertension in young adults. Methods: This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at DHQ Teaching Hospital MTI Bannu from 10 Feb 2024 to 15 November 2024. A total of 325 young adults aged between 18 and 35 years were recruited through outpatient clinics, university campuses, and community health outreach programs. Participants were enrolled after providing informed written consent. Patients aged >18 years and who had no known history of chronic illness, cardiovascular disease, or psychiatric disorders were included in the study. Results: Poor sleep quality was observed in 60.9% of participants. Early-stage hypertension was present in 28.9% of the total sample, with a higher prevalence among those with poor sleep (34.3%) compared to those with good sleep (20.5%) (p = 0.007). After adjusting for BMI, smoking, physical inactivity, and family history, poor sleep quality remained a significant independent predictor of early-stage hypertension (adjusted OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.15–3.12; p = 0.012). Positive correlations were observed between PSQI scores and both systolic (r = 0.29, p = 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.26, p = 0.003). Conclusion: It is concluded that poor sleep quality is an independent and significant predictor of early-stage hypertension in young adults. These findings suggest the need for routine sleep quality assessment in cardiovascular risk screening and highlight the potential benefit of sleep-focused interventions in hypertension prevention strategies.