Nightmares and cardiometabolic diseases in an adult population-based sample.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research September 1, 2026 Keyuan Liu, Geoffroy Solelhac, Nicola Andrea Marchi et al.
Frequent nightmares are linked to a higher risk of cardiometabolic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. In a Swiss general-population study across three follow-ups, people with frequent nightmares had higher body mass index and greater prevalence of hypertension and diabetes than those without nightmares. Ecological momentary assessment confirmed a 2.53-fold higher odds of hypertension in the second follow-up. Polysomnography showed a lower pulse wave amplitude drops index in the frequent nightmare group, suggesting altered autonomic function, but salivary cortisol levels did not differ, indicating the stress hormone pathway alone does not explain the association. The findings suggest nightmares are associated with cardiometabolic risk, though the mechanisms remain unclear.