0817 Associations between Sleep Health and Injuries among Adults in the US: Findings from the National Health Interview Survey

Abstract

Introduction In 2020, 55.4 million Americans sought medical attention due to nonfatal, preventable injuries. Injury-related death rate was 15.7% higher than in 2019. Poor sleep health is associated with increased risk of injuries (e.g., falls, sports, and motor vehicle-related injuries). This study examined the associations between sleep health and injuries among adults (≥18 years). Methods This study utilized the 2020 National Health Interview Survey (n=31,568). The primary outcome encompassed sustained bodily injuries in the past 3 months. Secondary outcomes were fall-related, sports-related, and motor vehicle (MV)-related injuries. Sleep health in the past month was measured via 1) sleep quantity: very short (≤ 4 hours), short (5-6 hours), healthy (7-8 hours), or long (≥9 hours); 2) sleep quality: trouble falling asleep and trouble staying asleep; 3) feeling well-rested upon waking-up; and 4) sleep medications. Response categories included never, some days, most days, or every day. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between injuries and these four domains of sleep health. Results Overall, 9.1% of respondents sustained an injury. Among injured adults, 47.4% had fall-related injuries, 29.1% had sport-related injuries, and 6% had a MV-related injury. Adults with very short, short, and long sleep were 37%, 15%, and 22% more likely to be injured than adults with healthy sleep (p< 0.05). Adults with trouble staying asleep were 36% more likely to be injured than adults who never had trouble staying asleep (p< 0.01). Adults who woke up never rested or rested on some days were 49% and 36% more likely to be injured (p< 0.01) Adults who took medications for sleep on some days or every day were 24% and 36% more likely to be injured (p< 0.05; p< 0.001). Adults who had trouble staying asleep some days were 22% more likely to have a fall-related injury (p< 0.05). Respondents with long sleep were 43% less likely to have sports-related injuries (p< 0.05). Those who had trouble staying asleep were 3.5 times more likely to have experienced a MV-related injury (p< 0.01). Conclusion Sleep health is strongly associated with injuries among adults. Further studies are needed to determine causality in the observed associations. Support (if any)