Understanding the Connection Between Sleep, Heart Health and Sodium Intake

Even though narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) are two distinct sleep disorders, people with these conditions have an increased prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) or cardiometabolic (CM) comorbidities, including high blood pressure and heart disease, compared with people who do not have these sleep disorders.^1-4 Research indicates that even without a prior history of cardiovascular issues, people with narcolepsy face a higher risk of developing cardiovascular conditions.¹

High sodium intake may contribute to elevations in blood pressure and long-term consumption is associated with increased risk for hypertension and cardiovascular events.^5-8 Because sleep disorders are lifelong conditions, healthcare providers need to have conversations with patients that help them create management plans that consider their holistic health and lifestyle choices.

Research That Matters

Our research such as the CardioVascular Burden Of Narcolepsy Disease: A Real-World Evidence Study (CV-BOND), the Cardiovascular Burden of Patients Diagnosed with Idiopathic Hypersomnia: Real-World Idiopathic Hypersomnia Total Health Model (CV-RHTHYM) and our latest Phase 4 studies,⁹ provide real-world insights into the experiences of people with sleep conditions and the impact they have on heart health.

These studies are just a few examples of how we continue to strive to uncover more about the connections between narcolepsy, IH and CV/CM.

By prioritizing the voices of people living with sleep conditions and embedding them into our research our studies measure outcomes that have a direct impact on their lives – empowering the sleep community with as much information as possible.

Empowering Through Impact

As Sarah McMahon, Sleep Franchise Head at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, reinforces, we are steadfastly committed to raising awareness and empowering healthcare providers and people living with sleep conditions to have the right conversations about their management plans – ones that take into account the connection between sodium intake and heart health.

References

¹Ben-Joseph RH, Saad R, Black J, et al. Cardiovascular Burden of Narcolepsy Disease (CV-BOND): a real-world evidence study. Sleep. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsad161 
²Saad R, Lillaney P, Profant D, et al. Cardiovascular Burden of Patients Diagnosed With Idiopathic Hypersomnia: Real-World Idiopathic Hypersomnia Total Health Model (CV-RHYTHM). Presented at: Psych Congress 2023; September 6-10; Nashville, Tennessee. Poster 75 
³Black J, Reaven NL, Funk SE, McGaughey K, Ohayon MM, Guilleminault C, Ruoff C. Medical comorbidity in narcolepsy: findings from the Burden of Narcolepsy Disease (BOND) study. Sleep Med. 2017 May;33:13-18. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2016.04.004. Epub 2016 May 12. PMID: 28449892. 
⁴Saad R, et al. Poster presented at: International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research; May 7-10, 2023; Boston, MA. Poster EPH231 
⁵Ubeda A, et al. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2009;18:417-419. 
⁶Benitez-Camps M, et al. J Hypertens 2018;36:1656-1662. 
⁷George J, et al. BMJ. 2013;347:f6954. 
⁸Zeng Eur Heart J. 2022;43(18):1743-1755. 
⁹Jazz Pharmaceuticals. (2025, June 09). Jazz Pharmaceuticals Presents Late-Breaking Phase 4 Data Showcasing Xywav^® (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates) Oral Solution Treatment Outcomes in Narcolepsy at SLEEP 2025 [Press release]. https://investor.jazzpharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/jazz-pharmaceuticals-presents-late-breaking-phase-4-data