Associations Between Sleep Duration and Sensory Impairments Among Older Adults in China

Abstract

ObjectiveStudies of sleep duration in relation to the risk of sensory impairments other than dementia are scarce. Little is known about the associations between sleep duration and sensory impairments in China. This study aims to explore the associations between sleep duration and single or dual sensory impairments (visual and/or hearing).MethodsThis cross-sectional study used the data from 17,668 respondents were drawn from the 2018 survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), an ongoing national longitudinal study of Chinese adults aged 45 years and above. The duration of sleep per night was obtained from face-to-face interviews. The presence of sensory impairments was measured by self-reported visual and hearing functions. Multivariable generalized linear models (GLM) with binomial family and log link to assess the associations between sleep duration and sensory impairments.ResultsOf the 17,668 respondents, 8,396 (47.5%) were men. The mean (SD) age was 62.5 (10.0) years old. Respondents with short (≤ 4, 5 h per night) sleep duration had a significantly higher risk of visual, hearing and dual sensory impairments than those who slept for 7 h per night after adjusting for covariates (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, respondents who slept for 6 h per night had a higher risk of hearing impairment (P = 0.005). Further analysis suggested a U-shaped association between sleep duration and sensory impairments. When sleep duration fell below 8 h, increased sleep duration was associated with a significantly lower risk of visual (OR, 0.93; 95%CI, 0.88–0.98; P = 0.006), hearing (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.86–0.93; P < 0.001), and dual (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.87–0.94; P < 0.001) impairments. When sleep duration exceeded 8 h, the risk of visual (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.00–1.19; P = 0.048), hearing (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.97–1.11; P = 0.269), and dual (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.00–1.14; P = 0.044) impairments would increase facing prolonged sleep duration. Women and the elderly aged over 60 years old were more sensitive to short sleep duration and experienced a higher risk of sensory impairments.ConclusionIn this study, short sleep duration was associated with a higher risk of visual and hearing impairments. Future studies are needed to examine the mechanisms of the associations between sleep duration and sensory impairments.

Association of nocturnal sleep duration and midday napping with subjective poor hearing among middle-aged and older adults in China

“…The associations were independent of gender, age, marital status, education level, area of residence, smoking status, drinking status, BMI, social participation, baseline health condition and sleep quality. A few population-based studies provided insights into the heterogeneous effects of nocturnal sleep duration (26)(27)(28)(29). Some studies reported that long duration of nocturnal sleep could be a sign of high HL risk (26,27).…”

“…A few population-based studies provided insights into the heterogeneous effects of nocturnal sleep duration (26)(27)(28)(29). Some studies reported that long duration of nocturnal sleep could be a sign of high HL risk (26,27). A recent article revealed an association between nocturnal sleep with ≤ 4 h (OR: 1.53, 95%CI: 1.31, 1.80) and HL in comparison to the 7 h group (26).…”

“…A few population-based studies provided insights into the heterogeneous effects of nocturnal sleep duration ( 26 – 29 ). Some studies reported that long duration of nocturnal sleep could be a sign of high HL risk ( 26 , 27 ).…”

“…Some studies reported that long duration of nocturnal sleep could be a sign of high HL risk ( 26 , 27 ). A recent article revealed an association between nocturnal sleep with ≤ 4 h (OR: 1.53, 95%CI: 1.31, 1.80) and HL in comparison to the 7 h group ( 26 ). Wu et al ( 27 ) found that among the Chinese participants, sleep duration < 6 h/night was positively associated with high-frequency HL (OR: 1.46, 95%CI: 1.05, 2.03) and speech-frequency HL (OR: 1.38, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.83).…”

“…Research from China and America have suggested the U-shaped linkage between nocturnal sleep duration and HL that the risk of HL increased with sleeping shorter than 6 or longer than 8 h/night ( 26 , 27 ). The other work demonstrated different results.…”