Sleep Quality Strongly Predicts Heart Health After Menopause

A new study published in Menopause highlights the critical role of sleep quality in predicting long-term cardiovascular health outcomes for women undergoing menopause.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, along with colleagues from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Baylor University, analyzed data from nearly 3,000 participants in the long-running SWAN (Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation) cohort. Using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) scoring system, they tracked cardiovascular health markers and outcomes across midlife.

The findings showed that only 21% of midlife women met ideal cardiovascular health based on LE8. Among the eight LE8 metrics, blood pressure, blood glucose, sleep quality, and smoking status were the strongest predictors of risk for future cardiovascular disease. Sleep emerged as a distinct predictor of long-term cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, even more so than intermediate outcomes, such as carotid intima-media thickness.

The study reinforces the importance of promoting 7–9 hours of sleep nightly, as defined by LE8, to support cardiovascular longevity. Findings also support increased attention to sleep assessment and counseling in cardiovascular risk management for midlife women, particularly during the menopausal transition. The authors call for future clinical trials to test sleep-targeted interventions in this population.