1
|
Ekström H, Svensson M, Elmståhl S, Wranker LS. The association between loneliness, social isolation, and sleep disturbances in older adults: A follow-up study from the Swedish good aging in Skåne project. SAGE Open Med 2024; 12:20503121231222823. [PMID: 38249948 PMCID: PMC10798090 DOI: 10.1177/20503121231222823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives The aim of this follow-up study was to investigate whether loneliness and social isolation in a sample of older adults, mean age of 67.4 years at baseline examination, were associated with sleep disturbances at re-examination at a mean age of 76.4 years. Methods The study sample consisted of 2897 participants. Data on loneliness, social isolation, and sleep disturbances were collected through questionnaires and medical examinations. Logistic regression models were constructed to identify associations between levels of loneliness and social isolation at baseline and sleep disturbances at follow-up. Sociodemographic and health-related confounding factors were controlled for in the models. Results Sleep disturbances were reported by 25.6% (95% CI: 24.0%-27.2%) at baseline and 23.7% (95% CI: 22.1%-25.3%) at re-examination. Odds ratios for sleep disturbances at re-examination in relation to not being lonely or socially isolated were as follows: single occasions of loneliness (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.05-1.78), recurring periods/constant loneliness (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.01-1.99), less severe social isolation (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 0.78-1.79), and severe social isolation (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.01-3.49). Discussion Sleep disturbances are common among older adults and are associated with loneliness and social isolation. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the potential effects of loneliness and social isolation when investigating sleep disturbances in older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Ekström
- The Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Markus Svensson
- The Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Sölve Elmståhl
- The Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Lena Sandin Wranker
- The Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mahmood A, Kedia S, Dobalian A, Chang CF, Ahn S. Longitudinal associations between time-varying insomnia symptoms and all-cause health care services utilization among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Health Serv Res 2022; 57:1247-1260. [PMID: 35344596 PMCID: PMC9643080 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.13971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine longitudinal associations between time-varying insomnia symptoms (difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, early-morning awakenings, and nonrestorative sleep) and all-cause health care services utilization (HSU), including overnight hospital stays, nursing home stays, and home health care services among middle-aged and older adults. DATA SOURCES The Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationwide, population-representative survey of primarily middle-aged and older adults in the United States. STUDY DESIGN This study is an analysis of prospective data from the HRS for a cohort of 13,168 adults (aged ≥50 years; females = 57.7%). Study participants were followed for 16 years. This study focuses on the associations between time-varying insomnia symptoms, both cumulatively and independently, and repeated HSUs. A marginal structural modeling approach was used to capture time-varying biological, psycho-cognitive, and behavioral health factors, and to adjust for selection bias such as differential loss to follow-up. Generalized estimating equations were employed to compute average marginal effects and their 95% confidence intervals. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS We extracted longitudinal data from 2002 through 2018 waves of the HRS. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Experiencing higher numbers of insomnia symptoms on a cumulative scale was associated with higher probabilities of HSU. For instance, the likelihood of overnight hospital stays for individuals reporting one symptom increased from 4.7 percentage points on average (95% CI: 3.7-5.6, p < 0.001), to 13.9 percentage points (95% CI: 10.3-17.5, p < 0.001) for those reporting four symptoms, relative to individuals experiencing no insomnia symptoms. Further, experiencing each of difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, and nonrestorative sleep, as standalone symptoms, was associated with a higher likelihood of HSU when compared to those not experiencing the symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate the potential consequences and adverse impacts of insomnia symptoms on HSU among middle-aged and older adults. Future investigations should focus on the underlying causes and health systems pathways linking insomnia symptoms to HSU.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asos Mahmood
- Division of Health Systems Management and Policy, School of Public HealthUniversity of MemphisMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Satish Kedia
- Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public HealthUniversity of MemphisMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Aram Dobalian
- Division of Health Systems Management and Policy, School of Public HealthUniversity of MemphisMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Cyril F. Chang
- Fogelman College of Business and EconomicsUniversity of MemphisMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - SangNam Ahn
- Division of Health Systems Management and Policy, School of Public HealthUniversity of MemphisMemphisTennesseeUSA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mahmood A, Ray M, Ward KD, Dobalian A, Ahn S. Longitudinal associations between insomnia symptoms and all-cause mortality among middle-aged and older adults: a population-based cohort study. Sleep 2022; 45:zsac019. [PMID: 35037061 PMCID: PMC9189951 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
To date, there is no scientific consensus on whether insomnia symptoms increase mortality risk. We investigated longitudinal associations between time-varying insomnia symptoms (difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, early-morning awakening, and nonrestorative sleep) and all-cause mortality among middle-aged and older adults during 14 years of follow-up. Data were obtained from 2004 through 2018 survey waves of the Health and Retirement Study in the United States for a population-representative sample of 15 511 respondents who were ≥50 years old in 2004. Respondents were interviewed biennially and followed through the end of the 2018 survey wave for the outcome. Marginal structural discrete-time survival analyses were employed to account for time-varying confounding and selection bias. Of the 15 511 cohort respondents (mean [±SD] age at baseline, 63.7 [±10.2] years; 56.0% females), 5878 (31.9%) died during follow-up. At baseline (2004), 41.6% reported experiencing at least one insomnia symptom. Respondents who experienced one (HR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.03-1.20), two (HR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.01-1.23), three (HR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.05-1.27), or four (HR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.12-1.56) insomnia symptoms had on average a higher hazard of all-cause mortality, compared to those who were symptom-free. For each insomnia symptom, respondents who experienced difficulty initiating sleep (HR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.02-1.22), early-morning awakening (HR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.01-1.18), and nonrestorative sleep (HR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.09-1.26), had a higher hazard of all-cause mortality compared to those not experiencing the symptom. The findings demonstrate significant associations between insomnia symptoms and all-cause mortality, both on a cumulative scale and independently, except for difficulty maintaining sleep. Further research should investigate the underlying mechanisms linking insomnia symptoms and mortality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asos Mahmood
- Division of Health Systems Management and Policy, the University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Meredith Ray
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, the University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kenneth D Ward
- Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Aram Dobalian
- Division of Health Systems Management and Policy, the University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - SangNam Ahn
- Division of Health Systems Management and Policy, the University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, TN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mahmood A, Ray M, Dobalian A, Ward KD, Ahn S. Insomnia symptoms and incident heart failure: a population-based cohort study. Eur Heart J 2021; 42:4169-4176. [PMID: 34392357 PMCID: PMC8728724 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Heart failure (HF) is an ongoing epidemic and a serious clinical and public health issue. Currently, little is known about prospective associations between insomnia symptoms and HF incidence. We investigated the longitudinal associations between time-varying insomnia symptoms (difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, early-morning awakening, non-restorative sleep) and incident HF. METHODS AND RESULTS Data were obtained from the Health and Retirement Study in the US for a population-representative sample of 12,761 middle-aged and older adults (age ≥ 50 years; mean [SD] age, 66.7 [9.4] years; 57.7% females) who were free from HF at baseline in 2002. Respondents were followed for 16 years for incident HF. We employed marginal structural discrete-time survival analyses to adjust for potential time-varying biological, psycho-cognitive, and behavioral factors and to account for bias due to differential loss to follow-up. At baseline, 38.4% of the respondents reported experiencing at least one insomnia symptom. During the 16-year follow-up, 1,730 respondents developed incident HF. Respondents experiencing one (hazard ratio [HR]=1.22; 95% CI: 1.08-1.38), two (HR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.21-1.72), three (HR=1.66; 95% CI: 1.37-2.02), or four (HR=1.80; 95% CI: 1.25-2.59) insomnia symptoms had a higher hazard of incident HF than asymptomatic respondents. Respondents that had trouble initiating sleep (HR=1.17; 95%CI: 1.01-1.36), maintaining sleep (HR=1.14; 95% CI: 1.01-1.28), early-morning awakening (HR=1.20; 95% CI: 1.02-1.43), or non-restorative sleep (HR=1.25; 95% CI: 1.06-1.46) had a higher hazard of incident HF than asymptomatic respondents. CONCLUSION Insomnia symptoms, both cumulatively and individually, are associated with incident HF. Public health awareness and screening for insomnia symptoms in at-risk populations should be encouraged to reduce HF incidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asos Mahmood
- Division of Health Systems Management and Policy, The University of Memphis School of Public Health, 3825 Desoto Ave., Memphis, TN 38152-3530, USA
| | - Meredith Ray
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, The University of Memphis School of Public Health, 3825 Desoto Ave., Memphis, TN 38152-3530, USA
| | - Aram Dobalian
- Division of Health Systems Management and Policy, The University of Memphis School of Public Health, 3825 Desoto Ave., Memphis, TN 38152-3530, USA
| | - Kenneth D Ward
- Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Memphis School of Public Health, 3825 Desoto Ave., Memphis, TN 38152-3530, USA
| | - SangNam Ahn
- Division of Health Systems Management and Policy, The University of Memphis School of Public Health, 3825 Desoto Ave., Memphis, TN 38152-3530, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Myllyntausta S, Gibson R, Salo P, Allen J, Gander P, Alpass F, Stephens C. Daytime fatigue as a predictor for subsequent retirement among older New Zealand workers. Sleep Health 2021; 7:742-748. [PMID: 34625393 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2021.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There is limited information on the role of fatigue on retirement, either independently or in association with poor sleep. The aim of this study was to examine the prospective association between daytime fatigue, measured as feeling tired or feeling worn out, independently and in relation to dissatisfaction with sleep, and subsequent retirement among 960 older workers in New Zealand. METHODS Data from 2 consecutive surveys (2008 and 2010) of the New Zealand Health, Work, and Retirement Longitudinal Study were used. Poisson regression was used to investigate whether feeling tired and feeling worn out in 2008, along with dissatisfaction with sleep, were associated with self-reported retirement either due to health reasons or other reasons by 2010. RESULTS The risk for retirement due to health reasons during a 2-year follow-up was 1.80-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-2.45) among those who felt tired and 1.99-fold (95% CI 1.34-2.64) among those who felt worn out when compared to those not tired or not feeling worn out after adjusting for several sociodemographic, work characteristics and self-rated health. The risk for retirement due to health reasons was even higher when participant experienced both tiredness and feeling worn out. Dissatisfaction with sleep did not predict retirement due to health or other reasons. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight that workers at risk of subsequent retirement due to health reasons may be identified with rather simple questions on tiredness and feeling worn out even among generally healthy older workers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saana Myllyntausta
- Sleep/Wake Research Centre, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
| | - Rosemary Gibson
- Sleep/Wake Research Centre, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Paula Salo
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Joanne Allen
- School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Philippa Gander
- Sleep/Wake Research Centre, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Fiona Alpass
- School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Insomnia symptoms are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among adults aged 50 and older. Sleep Breath 2021; 26:1409-1416. [PMID: 34564818 DOI: 10.1007/s11325-021-02497-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the association of the different degrees of insomnia symptoms with subsequent incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS The data were extracted from Health and Retirement Study 2006-2014 waves. The association of insomnia symptoms with T2DM incidence was evaluated by the competing risk model with cumulative incidence function (death was considered a competing event) and Cox proportional hazard model with the Kaplan-Meier method. Population attributable fraction (PAF) was calculated. All analyses related to our study were conducted between November 2020 and January 2021. RESULTS A total of 14,112 patients were included in this study, with an average follow-up of 6.4 years, and the incidence density was 17.9 per 1000 person-years. Insomnia symptoms were positively associated with T2DM incidence compared with those with no insomnia symptoms, regardless of competing risk model (≥ 1 symptoms: sub-distribution hazard ratio (SHR) 1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.26; P-trend = 0.012) and Cox proportional hazard model (≥ 1 symptoms: hazard ratio (HR) 1.13; 95% CI 1.02-1.26; P-trend = 0.013). The cumulative incidence function (Gray's test, p < 0.001) and Kaplan-Meier estimate (log-rank test, p < 0.001) also presented this positive relationship. This positive association was more apparent in women and participants with ages from 50 to 65 years. The PAF was 4.1% with 95% CI (0.7-7.9%). CONCLUSIONS Insomnia symptoms may be an important risk factor for the development of T2DM, which is unbiased by the death competing risk. These findings suggest that management of sleep problems may be an important part of strategies to prevent T2DM.
Collapse
|
7
|
Sagherian K, Byon HD, Zhu S, Rose K. Insomnia symptoms, fatigue, and future job exit in American older adults. Am J Ind Med 2021; 64:127-136. [PMID: 33155335 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As older adults prolong working life and face age-related health changes, insomnia symptoms and fatigue may jeopardize their ability to stay in the labor force. Our study explored the relationships between insomnia symptoms, fatigue, and job exit in workers aged 65 years and older. METHODS Data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study were used (2011-2017). The sample included 953 Medicare beneficiaries with paid work at the time of the interview. Workers were followed annually for 6 years to the time of job exit. Insomnia measures included the number and type of symptoms, and fatigue (measured as low energy). Crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated within discrete-time survival analysis. Models were adjusted for health, lifestyle, and sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS At baseline, approximately 49% of workers had either one or two insomnia symptoms. Difficulty falling asleep and difficulty maintaining asleep were prevalent in 35% and 37% of the sample. Fatigue was common in <30% of the sample. Workers with difficulty falling asleep were 1.29 times at higher odds to have job exit when compared with workers with no insomnia (p = 0.033). Conversely, fatigued workers were 0.73-0.77 times at lower odds to have job exit when compared with nonfatigued workers (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Difficulty falling asleep negatively affects future work status, unlike feeling fatigued. Healthcare providers are encouraged to assess for insomnia and discuss treatments with workers, and workplaces should be flexible with the start of workdays to support worker longevity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Knar Sagherian
- College of Nursing The University of Tennessee Knoxville Knoxville Tennessee USA
| | - Ha D. Byon
- School of Nursing University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia USA
| | - Shijun Zhu
- School of Nursing University of Maryland Baltimore Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Karen Rose
- Center for Healthy Aging, Self‐Management and Complex Care, College of Nursing The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Brupbacher G, Straus D, Porschke H, Zander-Schellenberg T, Gerber M, von Känel R, Schmidt-Trucksäss A. The acute effects of aerobic exercise on sleep in patients with depression: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2019; 20:352. [PMID: 31196147 PMCID: PMC6567535 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-019-3415-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unipolar depression is one of the most important mental disorders. Insomnia is a symptom of cardinal importance in depression. It increases the risk to develop depression, negatively affects disease trajectory, is the most common symptom after remission, increases the risk of relapse, and is associated with higher suicide rates. Existing therapies for insomnia in depression have limitations. Further adjuvant therapies are therefore needed. Acute aerobic exercise has been shown to have beneficial effects on sleep in healthy individuals and patients with insomnia. We therefore hypothesize that a single session of aerobic exercise has a positive impact on sleep in patients with unipolar depression. This trial aims to investigate the effects of a single bout of aerobic exercise on the subsequent night's sleep in patients with depression. METHODS/DESIGN This is a two-arm parallel group, randomized, outcome assessor blinded, controlled, superiority trial. Patients between 18 and 65 years of age with a primary diagnosis of unipolar depression (without a psychotic episode) are included. Exclusion criteria are regular use of hypnotic agents, opioids, and certain beta-blockers, as well as the presence of factors precluding exercise, history of epilepsy, restless legs syndrome, moderate obstructive sleep apnea, and a BMI > 40. The intervention is a single bout of aerobic exercise, performed for 30 min on a bicycle ergometer at 80% individual anaerobic threshold. The control group sits and reads for 30 min. The primary outcome is sleep efficiency measured by polysomnography. Secondary outcomes include further polysomnographic variables, subjective pre-sleep arousal, nocturnal cardiovascular autonomic modulation, subjective sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and adverse events. According to the sample size calculation, a total of 92 patients will be randomized using minimization. DISCUSSION This trial will add new information to the body of knowledge concerning the treatment of insomnia in patients with depression. Thereby, the results will inform decision makers on the utility of acute aerobic exercise. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03673397 . Protocol version 1 registered on 17 September 2018.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gavin Brupbacher
- Division of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320 B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland.
- OBERWAID AG, Rorschacher Strasse 311, 9016, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
| | - Doris Straus
- OBERWAID AG, Rorschacher Strasse 311, 9016, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | | | - Thea Zander-Schellenberg
- Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Gerber
- Division of Sport and Psychosocial Health, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320 B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roland von Känel
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Culmannstrasse 8, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss
- Division of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320 B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
Purpose of Review In this review, we focus on the association of sleep and retirement from two perspectives. Firstly, we examine the role of sleep during the working years on retirement timing. Secondly, we examine how sleep changes during the transition to retirement. Recent Findings Persons with sleep difficulties are more likely to retire due to health problems, such as depression and musculoskeletal disorders. Retirement, on the other hand, is associated with both increased sleep duration and decreased sleep difficulties, mainly premature awakenings and nonrestorative sleep. Summary Promotion of sleep quantity and quality could be a potential way to support employees’ work ability and possibly even to postpone retirement, at least in relation to early retirement. Possible proposed mechanisms for the improved sleep after retirement include removal of work stress and increased flexibility in time use, which could be targeted in attempt to promote adequate and good quality of sleep already during the working years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saana Myllyntausta
- Department of Public Health, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Sari Stenholm
- Department of Public Health, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|