Prevalence of insomnia and associated factors in a community sample of elderly individuals in South Korea

Song

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine

et al. 2017

Study Objectives: To examine the comorbidity between insomnia and medical conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in community adults, aged ≥ 60 years, who resided in one of four major cities in northern China. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected simultaneously. A total of 3,176 elderly adults (1,292 male, mean ± standard deviation age 70.2 ± 6.8 years; 1,884 female, 68.8 ± 6.7 years) were interviewed. Results: The prevalence of specific medical conditions in both people with insomnia and people without insomnia was detected. Significantly higher proportions of arrhythmia, hypertension, cerebral hemorrhage, migraine, and hyperlipidemia were observed in people with insomnia than in people without insomnia. Moreover, a significantly higher proportion of insomnia was seen in elderly people with arrhythmia and migraine. We also found that elderly people with insomnia who took sleep medications reported a higher prevalence of coexisting arrhythmia, hypertension, and migraine, even after adjusting for age, sex, and depression. Conclusions: Our results indicate associations between insomnia and medical conditions in the community elderly in China. People who complained of insomnia had poorer physical health conditions. Sleep medication may not be a covariate that influences the comorbidity of some specific physical conditions. I NTRO DUCTI O NInsomnia is a serious public health concern, with 46% to 69% of patients presenting to a primary care office to report complaints of insomnia.1,2 A total of 46% to 69% of patients who complain of insomnia have comorbid medical or psychiatric disorders.3-5 Insomnia has a significant negative effect on morbidity and mortality, particularly in the elderly.6,7 Crosssectional studies have attempted to determine whether people with insomnia report more health problems. [8][9][10] However, very little prevalence data have been reported, and some of the samples that have been used may limit generalizability. Taylor et al. performed a study with 772 subjects (aged 20-98 years) and found significant overlap between insomnia and multiple medical conditions. 4 In another cross-sectional study, researchers collected data from 9,000 older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) and found that a lifetime history of insomnia was associated with greater difficulties in daily activities, respiratory symptoms, and having two or more health problems (ie, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, hip fracture, and other fractures). 10 The latter finding was further confirmed by the same research group who elucidated the association between insomnia and heart disease, stroke, hip fracture, and respiratory symptoms. 11 A meta-analysis found a high prevalence of sleep complaints with comorbid physical disorders in a large population of older adults from low-and middle-income countries. SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS Insomnia and Multimorbidity in the Community Elderly in China12 One underlying mechanism may be inflammation that is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease, 1...

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 44%

Insomnia and Multimorbidity in the Community Elderly in China

Song

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine

et al. 2017

Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association

“…In South Korea, a recent study conducted by Kim et al [14] reported a prevalence rate of 29.2% for insomnia, but when insomnia was accompanied by daytime consequences the prevalence rate dropped to 17.1%. This difference in the prevalence of insomnia may be attributed to the differences in definitions of insomnia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Insomnia among community dwelling elderly in Alexandria, Egypt

Ayoub

Attia²,

Kady³

et al. 2014

“…For example, linear regression analysis revealed that increasing age is associated with shorter sleep latencies and greater insomnia (Xian et al, 2014). Lower education (Kim et al, 2013; Talala, Martelin, Haukkala, Härkänen, & Prättälä, 2012) and obesity (Roth et al, 2011) were related to insomnia. Studies of impaired sleep show differences in partner status.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Trajectories of Cigarette Smoking Beginning in Adolescence Predict Insomnia in the Mid Thirties

Lee

Brook

Finch

et al. 2016

Substance Use & Misuse

Background Insomnia is increasingly recognized as a public health concern in modern society. Insomnia diagnoses appear to be increasing and are associated with poor health outcomes. They may cost $100 billion annually in health services. Objective Given the adverse consequences of insomnia such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression, the present study was designed to examine the relationship of the trajectories of earlier cigarette smoking and later insomnia. The ultimate goal is to reduce the prevalence of insomnia. Methods 674 participants (53% African Americans, 47% Puerto Ricans, 60% females) were surveyed at 6 points in time. We employed the growth mixture model to obtain the trajectories of cigarette smoking from age 14 to 32. We used logistic regression analyses to examine the associations between the trajectories of smoking and insomnia. Results Males were less likely to have insomnia than females (Adjusted odds ratio: AOR=0.34, p<.05). A higher Bayesian posterior probability (BPP) for the chronic smoking trajectory group (AOR=2.69, p<.05) and for the moderate smoking trajectory group (AOR=5.33, p<.01) was associated with an increased likelihood of having insomnia at age 36 compared with the BPP of the no or low smoking trajectory group. Conclusions Prevention and treatment programs for individuals who suffer from insomnia should be implemented in parallel with programs for smoking cessation. From a public health perspective, our longitudinal study that examined the association between earlier smoking trajectories and later insomnia suggests that treatments designed to reduce or cease smoking may lessen the occurrence of symptoms of insomnia.