LAUSR

Disparities in sleep health and metabolic syndrome (MetS) components co-exist in ethnic/racial minorities. Late adolescents (18-21 y.o.) are a high-risk, yet overlooked population to study sleep disparities and the associated metabolic health. This study aimed to examine the interaction between race and sleep health metrics on MetS components in late adolescents. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled a convenience sample of 60 college students (19.22±1.06 y.o.). Actigraph accelerometers assessed total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and wake after sleep onset (WASO) over one week. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and questions about demographic/socioeconomic information and risk behaviors. A point-of-care test provided the fasting glucose and cholesterol panel. The number (0 vs. >1) of MetS components, including high waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting triglycerides and glucose, and low High-Density Lipoprotein, indicated metabolic health. Logistic regression tested interaction terms controlling for adolescents’ age, sex, alcohol consumption, and parents’ education, marital status, and family income. Most participants (n=55; 92%) slept < 7 hours and 43% reported poor sleep (PSQI>5). More than half (n=33; 55%) had at least one MetS component. On average, White (non-Hispanic) participants had higher TST (6.07 vs. 5.63, t=1.93, p=0.06) and SE (84.89% vs. 81.07%, t=2.31, p=0.02) than their racial/ethnic minority (Black/Hispanic/Asian American/other) peers. Race significantly interacted with TST (OR=0.24, p=0.04), SE (OR=0.69, OR=0.10), and WASO (OR=1.08, p=0.02), such that associations of decreasing odds of MetS with increasing TST and SE and decreasing WASO were significant only in the racial/ethnic minority group. Furthermore, racial/ethnic minority adolescents (vs. White) had a greater MetS risk, when TST hours were at low levels (i.e., < 6 hours). Similarly, low SE (< 85%) and high WASO (>60 min) were associated with greater odds of MetS in racial/ethnic minority (vs. White) adolescents. PSQI scores were not independently associated with MetS or interacted with race in the association with MetS. Unhealthy sleep is associated with increased MetS risk, particularly for racial/ethnic minority adolescents. Given the greater sensitivity to sleep health, improving sleep quantity and quality may be candidate targets for MetS interventions in at-risk populations who experience health disparities. American Nurses Foundation (18A01422). Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) in cardiovascular health (P20GM113125)