Search
What are you looking for?
Start main content

Press Releases

Press Releases

https://med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/cuhk-study-sees-shorter-sleep-put-adolescents-at-risk-of-future-cardiovascular-diseases
https://med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/cuhk-study-sees-shorter-sleep-put-adolescents-at-risk-of-future-cardiovascular-diseases

CUHK Study Sees Shorter Sleep Put Adolescents at Risk of Future Cardiovascular Diseases

Researchers of the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have recently conducted a study which revealed that shorter sleep duration puts adolescents at risk of cardiovascular diseases. The research team measured the Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) of 142 adolescents and recorded their mean sleep duration. Results showed that almost 40% of participating adolescents did not get at least 8 hours of sleep as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation. It was also seen that shorter sleep duration is associated with increased CIMT, which implies higher risk of cardiovascular diseases in the future. The study results have been published in The Journal of Pediatrics.

 

Sleep is crucial in promoting cardiovascular health

The National Sleep Foundation has published recommendations on optimal sleep duration for those aged 17 or below, which is at least 8 hours per day. But most of the adolescents sleep less than the recommended amount. In a CUHK study published in 2015, more than half of 4,500 participating local school adolescents rated themselves as having insufficient sleep and “weekend compensation” has become the norm. This is also a common sleep pattern in Asian culture.

 

Sleep is an essential physiological process in humans. It plays an important role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis, ensuring memory consolidation and body restoration. Several epidemiologic studies in adults suggested a link between short sleep duration and an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and hypertension.  However, whether insufficient sleep in adolescents would predispose them to future cardiovascular adverse events remained unclear.  

 

CIMT as surrogate marker to assess for cardiovascular diseases risk in adolescents

Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK recruited 142 adolescents aged between 10 and 17 years old who were not overweight and had no history of suffering from obstructive apnoea (OSA) in 2012 to 2015. Participants were asked to complete a prospective 7-day sleep diary and undergo external ultrasound carotid scans for the measurement of their CIMT, i.e. the thickness of the innermost two layers of the wall of an artery.

 

Dr. Jade Wing Sum LI, fresh medical graduate of CUHK, explained, “Cardiovascular diseases are rarely found among adolescents, so there is no conventional method for assessing their related risk. CIMT has been validated for predicting cardiovascular risk in adults. It is user-friendly, no radiation is involved and it can detect early atherosclerosis, so we use CIMT as a safe and reliable surrogate marker to predict the participants’ future cardiovascular risks.”

 

40% of adolescents sleep less than 8 hours

Participating adolescents were divided into different groups by mean sleep duration according to the 7-day sleep diary. Almost 40% of the participants did not get at least 8 hours of sleep as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation.

 

The study results also demonstrated that shorter sleep duration is associated with increased CIMT. Details are tabulated as follows:

 

 Mean sleep duration over the past 7 days
≤ 7 hrs7.01 to 8 hrs> 10 hrs
CIMT (mm)0.490.470.44

 

Shorter sleep duration resulting in higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events

Professor Albert Martin LI, Department of Paediatrics of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK, said, “Our study results demonstrate that sleep deprivation is associated with a greater CIMT in adolescents, independent of obesity and OSA. The mean CIMT in subjects sleeping less than or equal to 7 hours is also comparable to children with familial hypercholesterolemia which is 0.494 mm. Therefore, our subjects sleeping less than or equal to 7 hours are at equal risk of early adverse cardiovascular events as those with familial hypercholesterolemia.”

 

Professor LI added, “Previous paediatric studies have confirmed that CIMT is increased in the presence of cardiovascular disease risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus. Our group has also previously found that in non-obese adolescents, short sleep duration is associated with an increased blood pressure. As inadequate sleep is a common global phenomenon in modern society, we need to have prompt intervention to prevent the increase in future cardiovascular events.”

 

Delaying school start time may help improve adolescents’ sleep duration and health

In our locality, sleep pattern is influenced by multiple factors, including school start time, parental sleep/wake pattern and daytime activities such as electronic media use and homework. CUHK’s research team has documented that delaying school start time by a modest 15 minutes is able to improve the subjective feelings toward sleep quantity and quality among the students, with corresponding improvements in mood and behaviours.

 

Dr. Kate Ching Ching CHAN, Assistant Professor of the Department of Paediatrics of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK, stated, “Our study demonstrates the importance of adequate sleep duration in adolescents, who are at higher risk from insufficient sleep and delayed circadian rhythm. Simple measures such as delaying school start time to increase sleep duration may be the way forward in tackling adulthood cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.”

 

Researchers of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK have recently conducted a study which revealed that shorter sleep duration puts adolescents at risk of cardiovascular diseases. (From left) Dr. Jade LI, fresh medical graduate of CUHK; Professor Albert LI and Dr. Kate CHAN, both from the Department of Paediatrics of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK.

Researchers of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK have recently conducted a study which revealed that shorter sleep duration puts adolescents at risk of cardiovascular diseases. (From left) Dr. Jade LI, fresh medical graduate of CUHK; Professor Albert LI and Dr. Kate CHAN, both from the Department of Paediatrics of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK.

Professor Albert LI states that inadequate sleep is a common global phenomenon in modern society, prompt intervention is needed to prevent the increase in future cardiovascular events.

Professor Albert LI states that inadequate sleep is a common global phenomenon in modern society, prompt intervention is needed to prevent the increase in future cardiovascular events.

Dr. Jade LI (left) says that shorter sleep duration is associated with increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) in adolescents, which implies higher risk of cardiovascular diseases in the future.

Dr. Jade LI (left) says that shorter sleep duration is associated with increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) in adolescents, which implies higher risk of cardiovascular diseases in the future.

Dr. Kate CHAN suggests adolescents to develop good sleeping habits, for example, rest at regular hours and set the time limit of electronic devices usage before sleep.

Dr. Kate CHAN suggests adolescents to develop good sleeping habits, for example, rest at regular hours and set the time limit of electronic devices usage before sleep.

The research team encourages adolescents to develop good sleeping habit.

The research team encourages adolescents to develop good sleeping habit.

More Press Releases

CU Medicine finds surgical treatment lowers blood pressure in children with severe obstructive sleep apnoea but postoperative weight control is equally important

CU Medicine finds surgical treatment lowers blood pressure in children with severe obstructive sleep apnoea but postoperative weight control is equally important

Research
CU Medicine Study Shows Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Increases the Risk of Hypertension in Adulthood

CU Medicine Study Shows Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Increases the Risk of Hypertension in Adulthood

Research
CUHK Introduces Nasal Strip Sampling for COVID-19 Test As a Superior Tool for Surveillance in a Wide Age-Range Population

CUHK Introduces Nasal Strip Sampling for COVID-19 Test As a Superior Tool for Surveillance in a Wide Age-Range Population

Research
CUHK Survey Reveals Majority of School Teens Have Insufficient Sleep

CUHK Survey Reveals Majority of School Teens Have Insufficient Sleep

Health Campaign
CUHK Launches Territory-wide Sleep Health Education Campaign to Promote Healthy Sleep and Healthy School Life

CUHK Launches Territory-wide Sleep Health Education Campaign to Promote Healthy Sleep and Healthy School Life

Health Campaign
COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the daily lives of schoolchildren in Hong Kong; Proportion of overweight and obese kids more than doubled

COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the daily lives of schoolchildren in Hong Kong; Proportion of overweight and obese kids more than doubled

Research
CU Medicine Study Suggests Toddlers are at High Risk of Being  “Silent Spreaders of SARS-CoV2 Infection”

CU Medicine Study Suggests Toddlers are at High Risk of Being “Silent Spreaders of SARS-CoV2 Infection”

Research
CUHK Recommends Oral Glucose Tolerance Test for All Pregnant Women Study Reveals Children of Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Have 3-Fold Diabetes Risk

CUHK Recommends Oral Glucose Tolerance Test for All Pregnant Women Study Reveals Children of Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Have 3-Fold Diabetes Risk

Research
CUHK Proves Rotavirus Vaccine Highly Effective for HK Children

CUHK Proves Rotavirus Vaccine Highly Effective for HK Children

Research
CU Medicine identifies a “fish allergenicity ladder” system, promoting evidence-based, personalised seafood avoidance for patients with fish allergy

CU Medicine identifies a “fish allergenicity ladder” system, promoting evidence-based, personalised seafood avoidance for patients with fish allergy

Research
CUHK hosts Healthy School Forum to promote schoolchildren’s mental health Encouraging the adoption of WHO Health Promoting Schools Framework to support campuses’ development in post-pandemic era

CUHK hosts Healthy School Forum to promote schoolchildren’s mental health Encouraging the adoption of WHO Health Promoting Schools Framework to support campuses’ development in post-pandemic era

Health Campaign
A CU-led international study identifies metabolomic markers for diabetic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes

A CU-led international study identifies metabolomic markers for diabetic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes

Research
CUHK proves its self-developed oral microencapsulated live bacteria formula SIM03 improves disease severity and quality of life in children with eczema

CUHK proves its self-developed oral microencapsulated live bacteria formula SIM03 improves disease severity and quality of life in children with eczema

Research
CU Medicine’s nationwide multicentre study on acute lymphoblastic leukaemia  establishes a new biomarker to inform relapse risk and treatment strategies

CU Medicine’s nationwide multicentre study on acute lymphoblastic leukaemia establishes a new biomarker to inform relapse risk and treatment strategies

Research
A major international study identifies biomarkers that enhance prediction accuracy of cardiovascular diseases in people with diabetes and have potential to change clinical practice

A major international study identifies biomarkers that enhance prediction accuracy of cardiovascular diseases in people with diabetes and have potential to change clinical practice

Research
CUHK announces survey results on the mental health of local child, adolescent and elderly populations

CUHK announces survey results on the mental health of local child, adolescent and elderly populations

Research
CU Medicine study identifies 11 allergen components of shrimp for  precision diagnosis of shrimp allergy

CU Medicine study identifies 11 allergen components of shrimp for precision diagnosis of shrimp allergy

Research
CUHK unravels the world’s most comprehensive genome profile of the American cockroach and reveals novel cockroach allergens for the development of precision immunotherapy

CUHK unravels the world’s most comprehensive genome profile of the American cockroach and reveals novel cockroach allergens for the development of precision immunotherapy

Research
CUHK’s HK-HOPE develops an integrated drug and genomic test to tailor precision personalised medicine and deliver “hope” to children with difficult-to-treat leukaemia

CUHK’s HK-HOPE develops an integrated drug and genomic test to tailor precision personalised medicine and deliver “hope” to children with difficult-to-treat leukaemia

Research
CUHK unveils the evolutionary history of medically important mites, laying the genomics groundwork for diagnosis of and intervention in mite allergy

CUHK unveils the evolutionary history of medically important mites, laying the genomics groundwork for diagnosis of and intervention in mite allergy

Research
CU Medicine proves basophil activation test has much higher diagnostic accuracy  for shrimp allergy than conventional allergy tests

CU Medicine proves basophil activation test has much higher diagnostic accuracy for shrimp allergy than conventional allergy tests

Research
CUHK Study Finds Half of Childhood Cancer Survivors Used Complementary and Alternative Medicine

CUHK Study Finds Half of Childhood Cancer Survivors Used Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Research
CU Medicine Studies Suggest Grass Carp as a Major Source of Fish Allergy in Hong Kong And Identify Novel Allergenic Marker Cten i 1 to Promote Accurate Diagnosis

CU Medicine Studies Suggest Grass Carp as a Major Source of Fish Allergy in Hong Kong And Identify Novel Allergenic Marker Cten i 1 to Promote Accurate Diagnosis

Research
CU Medicine Researchers Discover Shortened DNA Telomere Length as a Useful Biomarker to Identify Patients with Diabetes at High Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

CU Medicine Researchers Discover Shortened DNA Telomere Length as a Useful Biomarker to Identify Patients with Diabetes at High Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Research
CUHK Study Sees the Exposure to Farm Environment  Is Beneficial for Children to Prevent Asthma

CUHK Study Sees the Exposure to Farm Environment Is Beneficial for Children to Prevent Asthma

Research
CUHK to Commence the Next-Generation Clinical Trials of CAR-T Cell Therapy for Haematological Malignancy

CUHK to Commence the Next-Generation Clinical Trials of CAR-T Cell Therapy for Haematological Malignancy

Research
CUHK-Designed Intervention Package Proves Effective to Increase Influenza Vaccine Uptake in Hong Kong Young Children

CUHK-Designed Intervention Package Proves Effective to Increase Influenza Vaccine Uptake in Hong Kong Young Children

Research
CUHK Establishes Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence (HK HOPE) Multidisciplinary Efforts Across the Globe to Advance Children’s Health and Well-being

CUHK Establishes Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence (HK HOPE) Multidisciplinary Efforts Across the Globe to Advance Children’s Health and Well-being

Health Campaign
CUHK Study Proves Achieving Sustained Minimal Disease Activity Lowers the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients

CUHK Study Proves Achieving Sustained Minimal Disease Activity Lowers the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients

Research
CUHK-DGIST-ETH Zurich Establish Joint Laboratory on Nano-technology for Gastrointestinal and Cardiovascular Diseases

CUHK-DGIST-ETH Zurich Establish Joint Laboratory on Nano-technology for Gastrointestinal and Cardiovascular Diseases

International collaboration
CUHK Conducts Hong Kong’s First Study on Seven Common Respiratory Viruses Revealing Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza A as Prevalent Fatal Types

CUHK Conducts Hong Kong’s First Study on Seven Common Respiratory Viruses Revealing Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza A as Prevalent Fatal Types

Research
CUHK Launches Newborn Add-on Test for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Supported by Joshua Hellmann Foundation for Orphan Disease

CUHK Launches Newborn Add-on Test for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Supported by Joshua Hellmann Foundation for Orphan Disease

Donation
CUHK Unveils Genome of Dermatophagoides farinae Casting New Light on Diagnosis and Interventions of Inhalant Allergies

CUHK Unveils Genome of Dermatophagoides farinae Casting New Light on Diagnosis and Interventions of Inhalant Allergies

Research
CUHK Research Shows 60% Diabetic Patients Have Poor Sleep Auriculotherapy Helps Improve Sleep Quality and Glycaemic Control

CUHK Research Shows 60% Diabetic Patients Have Poor Sleep Auriculotherapy Helps Improve Sleep Quality and Glycaemic Control

Research
CUHK Pioneers Innovative Bioimpedance Spectroscopy for Early Assessment of Cardiovascular Risks of End Stage Renal Failure Patients

CUHK Pioneers Innovative Bioimpedance Spectroscopy for Early Assessment of Cardiovascular Risks of End Stage Renal Failure Patients

Research
CUHK-PWH Lee Quo Wei Cardiovascular Intervention Centre Officially Opens Equipped with Cutting Edge Technology to Serve the Territory

CUHK-PWH Lee Quo Wei Cardiovascular Intervention Centre Officially Opens Equipped with Cutting Edge Technology to Serve the Territory

Milestone
CUHK Pioneers MRI Iron Assessment for Thalassemia Children in Southern China

CUHK Pioneers MRI Iron Assessment for Thalassemia Children in Southern China

Clinical service
CUHK Discovers the Environmental Factors in Family and School Behind Constipation in HK Children

CUHK Discovers the Environmental Factors in Family and School Behind Constipation in HK Children

Research
CUHK Proves the Potent Efficacy of Stenting for Carotid Artery Narrowing and Cardiac Contractility Modulation for Heart Failure

CUHK Proves the Potent Efficacy of Stenting for Carotid Artery Narrowing and Cardiac Contractility Modulation for Heart Failure

Research

Our Expert List

Many experts under the Faculty of Medicine are available for media interview.
Please click here for the expert list or contact us.