Sufficient Sleep Controls Blood Pressure in the Elderly
Sufficient Sleep Controls Blood Pressure in the Elderly
A faculty member of the university's Aging Research Center, referring to the results of the Ardakan Cohort Study of Aging, emphasized: The results of a new scientific study show that a nightly sleep duration of 6 to 7 hours is associated with a 28 percent reduction in the probability of developing hypertension in middle-aged and elderly individuals.
According to the report from the university's web correspondent, Dr. Peymaneh Shirinbayan, a faculty member of the Aging Research Center at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, referring to the results of the Ardakan Cohort Study of Aging (ACSA)—conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, and Iran University of Medical Sciences—stated: The findings of this research show that a nightly sleep duration in the range of 6 to 7 hours is associated with a 28 percent decrease in the likelihood of developing high blood pressure in middle-aged and elderly people.
Emphasizing the importance of sleep hygiene, the researcher called for healthcare staff to pay more attention to assessing sleep quality and duration during routine patient examinations.
Significant Correlation Between Sleep Duration and Blood Pressure Control
Referring to the data from this study, which included 5,872 participants over the age of 50, Dr. Shirinbayan added: While the focus is usually on diet and physical activity, the results of our study show that 6 to 7 hours of nightly sleep can significantly reduce the probability of hypertension. In fact, individuals with high blood pressure suffered from lower sleep quality and insufficient sleep duration compared to the healthy group.
She clarified: Precise statistical analyses showed that the 6- to 7-hour window remained a protective factor against high blood pressure, even after adjusting for confounding factors such as age, underlying diseases, and lifestyle.
The Necessity of Changing Approaches in Medical Care
Emphasizing that physicians should include questions about sleep status in their care protocols, Dr. Shirinbayan stated: This finding is a wake-up call that sleep problems should not be viewed merely as a side effect, but rather as a therapeutic goal for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
She concluded by noting: Given the cross-sectional nature of this study, more longitudinal research is needed to precisely prove the cause-and-effect relationship; however, our recommendation to middle-aged and elderly people is to observe sleep hygiene and, if disorders such as severe snoring or frequent awakenings persist, consult a specialist for further detailed examinations.
This research, titled Association between sleep duration and quality with hypertension: Ardakan Cohort Study of Aging (ACSA), was published in 2026 in the scientific journal Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. The research team for this study consisted of Mohammad Bidkhori, Mohammad Amin Jandaghian Bidgoli, Asma Pourhossein Gholi, Payam Karimi, Dr. Peymaneh the Shirinbayan, and Dr. Elham Houshmand, and the study was conducted with the support of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, and Iran University of Medical Sciences.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):
Access Link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-026-01348-0
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