Characterizing Sleep Health, Sleep Disorders, and Cognitive Functioning After Heart Transplantation

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Cognitive impairment impacts 30-63% of the people who receive a heart transplant. Cognitive impairment limits
their ability to self-manage the necessary and complex medical regimens required to maintain viability of the
transplanted heart and is associated with worse post-transplant survival. Sleep health may represent a
modifiable factor that contributes to cognitive impairment after heart transplantation; however, the relationship
between sleep health and cognitive functioning after heart transplantation has not been examined. The paucity
of comprehensive sleep health research in this population prevents the development of precision sleep health
interventions. Additionally, sleep disorders, including insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, are associated
with impaired cognitive functioning in other complex conditions, but these relationships have not been explored
after heart transplantation. To address these scientific gaps, a multisite, longitudinal study will be conducted to
obtain a comprehensive evaluation of sleep health, sleep disorders, and cognitive functioning in heart
transplant recipients. We will enroll 30 adult heart transplant recipients who are at least 6 months post-
transplant. Repeated measures will be obtained at 9- and 12-months post-transplant. We will: (1) Describe
sleep health characteristics (regularity, satisfaction, alertness/sleepiness, timing, efficiency, duration), sleep
disorders (obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome), and cognitive function (executive
function, attention, episodic memory, working memory, processing speed, language) in heart transplant
recipients at 6 months post-transplant, and characterize changes among these variables at 9 months and 12
months after the transplant surgery; (2) Identify which sleep health characteristics (regularity, satisfaction,
alertness/sleepiness, timing, efficiency, duration) and sleep disorders (obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia,
restless legs syndrome) are associated with cognitive function at 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months after
heart transplantation. Training on sleep health, sleep disorders, cardiovascular outcomes, cognitive
assessments, statistical analyses, scientific writing, and intervention development, will provide the applicant
with the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct this research and to launch an independent research
career. The foundational data obtained from this research study, will critically inform the development of
precision sleep health interventions designed to promote optimal cognitive functioning for heart transplant
recipients as they navigate complex medical regimens.

Grant Number: 1F32HL176010-01A1
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Stacy Al-Saleh