Physical Activity in Relation to Sleep Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in China

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the physical activity and sleep in 290 community-dwelling Chinese older adults and to examine the association between physical activity and poor sleep outcomes. Almost half of the samples were poor sleepers. The majority of the samples regularly participated in walking, some household activity, and light sports, yet only a small portion were involved in work-related activity or in strenuous sports. A greater level of overall physical activity (odds ratio = 0.79; 95% confidence interval = [0.73, 0.86]), leisure-time exercise (odds ratio = 0.77; 95% confidence interval = [0.68, 0.85]), and household activity (odds ratio = 0.66; 95% confidence interval = [0.56, 0.78]) were associated with reduced likelihood of being poor sleepers and other poor sleep outcomes, independent of covariates including age, sex, education, family income, the number of children, drinking, and sleep hygiene. Future larger-scale studies that incorporate both objective and subjective measures are needed to further examine the association and to explore the effects of different types of activity on sleep and other well-beings in older adults.

Sleep Duration and Sleep Quality Are Associated with Physical Activity in Elderly People Living in Nursing Homes

“…Finally, our second hypothesis stated that good sleep quality would be associated with sufficient PA in the elderly. The results of our study confirmed this hypothesis and are in line with previous studies conducted among the same population [ 13 , 30 , 31 ]. Specifically, two cross-sectional studies [ 30 , 31 ] have shown that good subjective sleep quality was positively associated with PA.…”

“…The results of our study confirmed this hypothesis and are in line with previous studies conducted among the same population [ 13 , 30 , 31 ]. Specifically, two cross-sectional studies [ 30 , 31 ] have shown that good subjective sleep quality was positively associated with PA. Moreover, a longitudinal study by Holfeld and Ruthig [ 13 ] showed that better initial sleep quality predicted higher levels of later PA, yet initial PA did not predict later sleep quality.…”

Twenty four‐hour activity cycle in older adults using wrist‐worn accelerometers: The seniors‐ENRICA‐2 study

“…In our study, the mean sleep period duration (ie, interval between bedtime and wake‐up time) was 7.7 h/d; given that the sleep efficacy was of 85.9%—with a WASO around 1.1 h/d, and the mean sleep time was 6.6 h/d. These results are similar to those of previous studies using accelerometry in older people, in which the sleep duration ranged from 6.3 to 6.6 h/d . As in previous research, no marked differences were generally observed in sleep patterns by socio‐demographic factors and BMI; however, women showed greater sleep time and sleep efficiency than men, who accumulated more WASO time.…”

“…These results are similar to those of previous studies using accelerometry in older people, in which the sleep duration ranged from 6.3 to 6.6 h/d. 4,5,25,26 As in previous research, 10 no marked differences were generally observed in sleep patterns by socio-demographic factors and BMI; however, women showed greater sleep time and sleep efficiency than men, who accumulated more WASO time. Moreover, participants with obesity showed lower sleep efficiency and were less likely to meet the sleep recommendations.…”

Effects of Physical Exercise on Autophagy and Apoptosis in Aged Brain: Human and Animal Studies

“…Sleep disturbances are common features in older adults, such as sleepiness at daytime, fractionated sleep at night (117)(118)(119), among others. It has been shown in the elderly, both men and women, that low to moderate physical activity improved sleep quality (120)(121)(122)(123)(124)(125)(126)(127)(128)(129)(130)(131)(132)(133). In animals, sleep derangement related to the aging process also happens (134,135).…”