Background/objectives: Sleep disorders predispose to hypertension but little is known on the effect of hypertension on sleep patterns and cognitive function in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study we sought to describe sleep patterns and determine the risk of cognitive impairment in hypertensive subjects (HTS) in Yaoundé- Cameroon.
Methods: We carried out a case-control study involving HTS and age- and sex-matched normotensive subjects (NTS), screening for sleep quality and risk of cognitive impairment using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) respectively. Informed consent was obtained from each participant and clearance obtained from the Faculty IRB. Data were compared between both groups.
Results: In total 50 HTS and 54 age- and sex-matched NTS were enrolled. HTS were significantly “poor sleepers” (global PSQI > 5, p = 0.016), “short sleepers” (<5 h, p = 0.027) than NTS. After adjusting for BMI, there was a significant association between sleep quality (aOR = 4.18, p = 0.005), and Hypertension. In all, 11.1% of HTS had a higher risk of dementia (IHDS < 10) against 1.9% of NTS (p = 0.07). There was no clear sleep trend observed with respect to the severity of hypertension (JNC8 classification).
Conclusion: Sleep quality and sleep duration were poorer and shorter respectively and the risk of cognitive impairment higher in HTS than in NTS.
Keywords: Sleep disorders, hypertension, cognitive impairment.
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© 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc.
