Washington, Sept. 10 (SANA) Exposure to artificial light at night may be linked to potentially harmful changes in the structure and function of the heart, according to a study of more than 11,000 people.
The study, led by Professor Lu Qi of Tulane University in New Orleans and published Thursday in the European Heart Journal, examined 11,071 participants from the UK Biobank.
Participants wore wrist-mounted light sensors for seven days to measure nighttime light exposure and underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) about three years later to assess the structure and function of their hearts.
Researchers compared people exposed to nighttime light levels above three lux with those exposed to almost no light at night.
They found that higher nighttime light exposure was associated with thickening of the left ventricular wall and reduced space inside the chamber, as well as signs of reduced heart muscle function. Changes were also detected in the right ventricles and left atria.
Qi said the findings linked higher nighttime light exposure to cardiac remodeling, a process in which the heart’s structure and function change, typically in response to chronic stress or injury.
He said such remodeling can ultimately weaken the heart and contribute to heart failure.
Previous observational studies have linked nighttime light exposure to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, but less was known about associated changes in cardiac structure and function, according to the researchers.
The findings suggest that reducing nighttime light exposure could be considered as a potential strategy for preventing heart disease, Qi said.
The study identified an association between nighttime light exposure and cardiac changes but did not establish that artificial light directly caused those changes.
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