Short Sleep Duration and the Risk of Hypertension and Diabetes

Author

Jacob Novick, University of the PacificFollow

Date of Award

4-1-2020

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Department

Physician Assistant Education

First Advisor

Rahnea Sunseri

Abstract

Per the CDC, in the year 2016, essential hypertension as a primary diagnosis lead to 1 million emergency department visits. Outpatient visits with that same diagnosis and year were staggering as well, at 32.8 million visits.5 Mortality in 2016 exceeded 35,000 deaths due to primary hypertension.5 The numbers are just as concerning for diabetes, per the CDC’s report that 11.4% and 11.5% of emergency department visits and physician office visits, respectfully, involved diabetes in 2016. In addition, diabetes was responsible for more than 83,000 deaths in 2016.6

These statistics highlight the importance of determining the relationship of short sleep durations and development of either hypertension or diabetes. Furthermore, the high prevalence of insufficient sleep and these diseases assure that primary care providers will frequently encounter patients who struggle to control one, two, or even all three of these conditions. For these reasons, it is essential to investigate the association, if any, between insufficient sleep, and hypertension and diabetes. If a direct relationship between a lack of sleep and an increased risk of either hypertension or diabetes were found, then future providers could educate patients accordingly and thus, prevent suffering from these mostly preventable diseases.

Recommended Citation

Novick, Jacob, "Short Sleep Duration and the Risk of Hypertension and Diabetes" (2020). Physician Assistant Capstones. 69.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/pa-capstones/69