Short sleep duration as a risk factor for cataract in the elderly hypertensive patients in rural China

Abstract

Background In an aging society, cataracts continue to significantly impact the quality of life for an increasing number of elderly individuals. As a risk factor for cataract, hypertension is becoming increasingly prevalent among the elderly year by year. The association between sleep duration and cataract in elderly hypertensive demographic remains unclear and warrants further exploration to aid in strategizing early intervention programs. Methods Based on China’s National Basic Public Health Service Project (NBPHSP), a cross-sectional study was conducted in Jia County, Henan Province, China. A total of 17473 cases aged 65 years and over with hypertension were included in this study. Sleep duration was obtained through questionnaires and information on cataracts was derived from NBPHSP. Three logistic regression models were used to assess the association between sleep duration and cataract. Subgroup analysis and interaction tests were performed to address heterogeneity. Results The average self-reported sleep duration was (6.77 ± 1.80) hours, and the prevalence of cataracts was 11.9%. In the adjusted logistic regression model, elderly hypertensive patients with sleep duration < 6 hours had a higher risk of cataract compared to those with sleep duration between 7–8 hours (OR: 1.39, 95%CI: 1.21–1.59). However, non-significant association was found between long sleep duration and cataract. The findings from subgroup analysis indicated no significant interaction effect. Conclusions In rural China, elderly hypertensive patients with a sleep duration of less than 6 hours are at a significantly higher risk of developing cataracts. This finding underscores the importance of monitoring sleep patterns in this population. Promoting adequate sleep duration may be a key strategy in reducing cataract prevalence and improving the overall quality of life for elderly patients with hypertension.