Association of Complete Blood Count-Derived Inflammatory Markers with Trouble Sleeping: Evidence from Population Data and Experimental Sleep Deprivation

Purpose: Trouble sleeping is a common pathophysiological feature underlying sleep disorders and affects both the number and function of immune cells. This study investigated the associations between complete blood count (CBC)-derived inflammatory markers and trouble sleeping, aiming to provide a simple and rapid reference for evaluating sleep-related conditions. Patients and methods: A total of 39,156 participants from the 2011-2018 NHANES cycles were included. Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the associations between CBC-derived inflammatory markers and trouble sleeping. Restricted cubic spline models were applied to assess potential nonlinear relationships, and stratified analyses were conducted for robustness. Additionally, a human study in healthy volunteers evaluated the effects of short-term sleep deprivation (36 h) and subsequent recovery on CBC-derived inflammatory markers and circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Results: = 0.008], particularly in adults aged 30-60, males, non-Hispanic Whites, individuals with obesity, and those with higher education; this association persisted in never smokers and participants without major comorbidities. In the human experimental study, acute sleep deprivation markedly increased CBC-derived markers, which largely returned to baseline following recovery sleep. Regarding circulating cytokines, only IL-6 remained elevated despite recovery, highlighting its key role in the inflammatory response to sleep loss. Conclusion: The findings highlight the link between trouble sleeping and CBC-derived inflammatory markers, with SIRI emerging as a potential predictor of trouble sleeping and IL-6 as a key cytokine involved in the inflammatory response to sleep deprivation.