Although poor sleep health, depressive symptoms and substance use are each recognized as independent predictors of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, less is known about how these factors interact during adolescence to influence cardiovascular health later in life. 

A study led by Postdoctoral Scholar, Prince Addo, Ph.D., addressed that gap by examining the combined effects of sleep health, depressive symptoms and substance use during adolescence on future cardiovascular disease risk using national longitudinal data.

Researchers found that adolescents with poor sleep health who also reported substance use had an 83% higher risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood compared with peers who had poor sleep health but did not use substances. The study assessed sleep duration, bedtime patterns and insomnia symptoms, as well as depressive symptoms and use of cigarettes, binge drinking and marijuana.

Findings suggest adolescence may represent a critical window for prevention, with early interventions targeting sleep and substance use potentially reducing long-term cardiovascular risk.