Evaluating the effect of physical activity on sleep disruption and subclinical cardiovascular disease risk in peri- and early postmenopausal women. - PROJECT SUMMARY Menopause is a health inflection point as risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases dramatically in the years surrounding the final menstrual period, resulting in worse health outcomes later in life. The menopause transition is associated with bothersome symptoms including vasomotor symptoms (VMS, e.g., hot flashes and night sweats) and sleep disturbances that can impact quality of life. Importantly, hot flashes and sleep disturbances are now recognized to be potential markers of disease risk. Increased frequency and severity of hot flashes have been positively associated with CVD risk factors, subclinical CVD markers, clinical cardiovascular events, and CVD mortality. Poorer sleep quality is also associated with variety of negative cardiovascular outcomes including subclinical CVD risk, metabolic syndrome and depression. Sleep disruptions occur both with and independent of nighttime hot flashes, but few studies have evaluated both hot flash-dependent and hot flash-independent sleep disruptions, and no studies to date have evaluated the unique contribution of night sweats to sleep disruptions or CVD risk. Habitual physical activity and acute exercise are associated with many health benefits. However, the effect of habitual or acute physical activity on nighttime VMS and sleep disruption is unknown. Further it is unclear whether physical activity influences the relationship between nighttime experiences and subclinical CVD risk. Therefore, the overall goal of the proposed studies is to directly examine the role of nighttime VMS, habitual PA, and acute exercise on sleep disruptions and subclinical CVD risk in peri- and early postmenopausal women. The aims of our study are: 1) To quantify VMS- and non-VMS related sleep disruptions in midlife women with higher- and lower-levels of habitual physical activity. 2) To quantify the differences in nighttime VMS experience and sleep disruptions following acute exercise in higher- and lower-active perimenopausal women. 3) To determine whether the relationships between subclinical CVD risk factors, nighttime VMS, and sleep disruption differ by habitual physical activity status in peri- and early post-menopausal women. Cardiovascular disease risk rises to a greater degree over the transition to menopause than other times in a woman’s life. These studies will have a significant scientific impact because understanding the relationship between physical activity, nighttime VMS and sleep disruptions, and preclinical CVD risk will improve knowledge of CVD risk in midlife women, which will advance efforts to monitor and mediate risk, optimize therapies, and improve the health of women.
