Sleep Disturbance and Occupational Burnout Interact to Increase Arterial Stiffness in Male Physicians

Occupational burnout and poor subjective sleep quality are each linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, yet their combined effects on arterial stiffness remain unclear. This study examined whether poor sleep is associated with arterial stiffness, measured by aortic pulse wave velocity, in physicians with burnout. Sixty male physicians (30 with clinical burnout, 30 without) completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and underwent aortic pulse wave velocity assessment using the Arteriograph. Multivariable regression tested independent and interactive associations of burnout and sleep quality, adjusting for heart rate, systolic blood pressure, age, body mass index, and physical activity. Poor sleepers were more frequent in burnout (40%) than controls (10%). Although neither burnout nor sleep quality predicted aortic pulse wave velocity, a significant interaction indicated that poorer, particularly shorter, sleep was associated with greater arterial stiffness only in burnout. Findings highlight the potential value of sleep-focused interventions to improve cardiovascular health in occupational stress.