Disparities in sleep characteristics by race/ethnicity in a population-based sample: Chicago Area Sleep Study

Abstract

Background Prior studies report less favorable sleep characteristics among non-Whites as compared with non-Hispanic Whites. However, few population-based studies have used objective measures of sleep duration, especially in more than two racial/ethnic groups. We tested whether objectively-estimated sleep duration and self-reported sleep quality varied by race and whether differences were at least partially accounted for by variability in clinical, psychological and behavioral covariates. Methods Adults aged 35-64 years who self- identified as White, Black, Asian or Hispanic were randomly sampled from Chicago, IL and surrounding suburbs. Our analytic sample included adults who had an apnea hypopnea index <15 after one night of screening and who completed 7 nights of wrist actigraphy for determination of sleep duration, sleep percentage, minutes of wake after sleep onset and sleep fragmentation (n=495). Daytime sleepiness was estimated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and sleep quality was estimated from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results Following statistical adjustment for age, gender, education, work schedule (i.e, day vs. night shift) smoking status, depressive symptoms, BMI, hypertension and diabetes, sleep duration (minutes) was significantly (all p<0.01) shorter in Black (mean=399.5), Hispanic (mean=411.7) and Asian (mean=409.6) participants than White participants (mean=447.4). All remaining sleep characteristics were significantly less favorable among Black participants as compared with White participants. Asian participants also reported significantly more daytime sleepiness than White participants. Conclusions Differences in sleep characteristics by race/ethnicity are apparent in a sample of adults with a low probability of sleep apnea and following adjustment for known confounders.

Relationship between sleep and obesity among U.S. and South Korean college students

“…Racial/national differences in sleep quality were examined by using ANOVA followed by the Scheffe post hoc test. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to compute adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and investigate the association between sleep duration and three independent variables (race/nationality, gender, and BMI) with adjustment for potential confounding factors (age, annual family income, days of vigorous-intensity activity, days of moderate-intensity activity, current smoking status, days of alcohol use, having trouble sleeping, sleep disorder, and depression) based on prior research [49][50][51]. Whites were used as the reference group for all multinomial regression models.…”

Harnessing Implementation Science to Increase the Impact of Health Equity Research

“…44 A multilevel framework explicates several mechanisms underlying the disparity, including many CFIR domains such as the outer setting (state/federal regulations, insurance policy), inner setting (cultural sensitivity and diversity of healthcare workforce), and individual providers (biases, skill in working with racial minority populations). 45 There are also several effective clinical interventions for managing asthma in racial minority populations (e.g., patient education, specialty clinics, medications).…”

Sleep Quality in an Adult American Indian Community Sample

“…1 A number of epidemiological studies have reported poorer quality sleep and a higher prevalence of short and/or long sleep in non-White adults, particularly from lower socioeconomic status groups, in comparison with White adults. [2][3][4][5] This research has provided crucial information on disparities in such factors as selfreported sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, and symptoms of sleep disordered breathing across ethnic groups, geographical location, and socioeconomic status. However, the underlying racial/ethnic specific factors that may lead to these disparities in sleep health are less well understood.…”