Associations between sleep disturbance, inflammatory markers, and high blood pressure: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2018

Objective Sleep disturbance leads to an active inflammatory response in the body, and the development of hypertension is also associated with inflammation; is there a definite association between the three? Methods We examined the pairwise relationships between SII (Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index), sleep disorders, and hypertension in an ethnically diverse sample (n = 22573) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).On successfully verifying its two-by-two pair correlation, Exploring the direct intensity of sleep disorders leading to hypertension, Strength of SII as a Mediating Effect of Sleep Disorders, and Hypertension. Results The study comprised 48.69% males and 51.31% females, with an average age of 48.01(18.51) years and an average BMI of 28.88 kg/m².Hypertension prevalence was 33.75% (n = 3,710) among males and 35.09% (n = 4,064) among females. Sleep disturbance affected 22.06% (n = 2,425) of males and 29.17% (n = 3,378) of females. Participants were categorized by hypertension and sleep disturbance status. Most did not use sleep medications, but higher usage was seen in those with both conditions. Smoking and alcohol consumption rates were notably higher among individuals with hypertension and sleep disturbance. Educational attainment was slightly lower among those with hypertension. Mexican Americans showed the lowest comorbidity of these conditions compared to non-Hispanic whites and Other Hispanics. In the correlation analysis, sleep disturbance was associated with an 81% increased risk of hypertension (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.69–1.95, P = 0.001). Sleep disturbance was positively correlated with an increase in the Systemic Inflammation Index (SII) (β: 16.34, 95% CI: 4.62–28.06, p = 0.006). SII was associated with hypertension (OR: 1.0002, 95% CI: 1.0001–1.0003, P = 0.001). SII mediated 0.23% (95% CI: 0.13%-0.37%, P = 0.001) of the effect between sleep disturbance and hypertension.