Comparative table summarizing the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS), Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), MrOS (Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study), and Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study (WSCS)

FeatureSHHSMESAMrOSWisconsin Sleep Cohort Study
Primary ObjectiveInvestigate the impact of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and sleep characteristics on cardiovascular health.Examine subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, with a sleep component focusing on OSA and other disorders.Assess risk factors for fractures, osteoporosis, and related outcomes in older men, including sleep parameters.Study the natural history, risk factors, and consequences of sleep-disordered breathing and other sleep disorders.
Study DesignProspective multicenter cohort study.Multi-ethnic, population-based longitudinal cohort study.Prospective cohort study focused on older men.Longitudinal population-based study with repeated in-lab sleep studies.
Year of Inception1995200020001988
Sample Size6,441 participants.6,814 participants.5,995 men aged ≥65 years.~1,500 state employees aged 30–60 years.
Population DemographicsMiddle-aged and older adults (40+ years).Multi-ethnic population (White, African American, Hispanic, Chinese American).Older men (65+ years), primarily White.Working-age adults (30–60 years), predominantly White and middle-class.
Sleep AssessmentHome-based polysomnography (PSG) to assess OSA, SDB, and other sleep parameters.Limited polysomnography subset; actigraphy for sleep patterns in ancillary sleep study.Questionnaires, actigraphy, and in-lab polysomnography in the MrOS Sleep Study (subset of participants).In-lab overnight polysomnography (PSG) every four years.
Primary Outcomes– Cardiovascular events (e.g., hypertension, stroke, heart failure).
– Mortality.
– SDB severity.		– Subclinical atherosclerosis (e.g., coronary artery calcium).
– Cardiovascular outcomes.		– Fractures (e.g., hip, spine).
– Osteoporosis progression.
– Sleep disorders’ impact on health.		– Progression of SDB.
– Cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes.
– Cognitive and neurocognitive effects.
Key Sleep Findings– SDB is a major risk factor for hypertension, stroke, and heart failure.
– Sleep fragmentation worsens outcomes.		– OSA and SDB are linked to coronary artery calcium progression and hypertension.– Poor sleep quality increases fracture risk.
– OSA impacts testosterone and metabolic health.		– SDB strongly linked to cardiovascular mortality.
– Hypoxic burden predicts cardiovascular risk.
Unique ContributionsFirst large-scale study on SDB’s cardiovascular impact using a population-based cohort.Multi-ethnic representation and integration of subclinical atherosclerosis with sleep studies.Focus on older men and unique links between sleep and bone health outcomes.Longitudinal data with repeated in-lab PSG enabling detailed analysis of sleep patterns and long-term health.