Background We aimed to investigate the influence of sleep disturbance on the 10-year risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in men aged 25–64 years in Russia.

Materials and Methods Within the framework of the WHO program “MONICA-psychosocial” a representative sample of men aged 25–64 years was surveyed in 1994 (657 persons). Sleep disturbance were measured at baseline using the MONICA—psychosocial scale. Incidence new MI cases were ascertained using systematic surveillance the 10-year follow-up. Cox—proportional regression model was used for an estimation of RR.

Results Two thirds of the subjects who experienced their first MI referred to their sleep as “sleep disturbances”. The 10-year RR of MI in men aged 25–64 years was 2.8 times higher (p<0.05) in those whose sleep was described as “poor” vs those with “good” sleep. RR of MI in men aged 25–44 years was 9.25 times higher (p<0.0001) in those whose sleep was described as “poor” vs those with “good” sleep. In the 45–64 year age group these differences were insignificant. RR of MI in men with sleep disturbances was higher in widowers, divorced men, with low social support level men, men with only primary education, working class men, and pensioners.

Conclusion The results demonstrate that sleep disturbances present a social problem and contribute to the risk of MI in young men.