Self-Reported Sleep in Older African Americans and White Americans

Abstract

<p class="Pa7"><strong>Objective: </strong>Assess the relationship of self-reported sleep quality and possible sleep disorders with disability in a racially diverse sample of community-dwelling older adults.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants included 943 non-demented older African Americans (n=452) and Whites (n=491) from two cohort studies, the Minority Aging Research Study (MARS) and the Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP). Participants completed a 32-item questionnaire assessing sleep quality and the possible presence of three sleep disorders (sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome [RLS] and REM behavior disorder [RBD]). Disability was assessed with scales that quantified the ability to perform instru­mental activities of daily living (IADL), basic activities of daily living (ADL), and physical mobility activities.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Results: </strong>More than half of the participants reported impaired sleep quality (51%), or the possible presence of at least one sleep disorder (57%; sleep apnea 44%, RLS 25% and RBD 7%). Sleep quality was rated poorer in African Americans, those with advancing age and fewer years of educa­tion (all P<.05). Only sleep apnea risk was associated with age (P<.02). In logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, years of education, and race, both sleep quality and disorders were associated with disability (sleep quality with mobility disabil­ity (P<.001), sleep apnea risk with mobility disability and IADL disability (all P<.001) and RLS symptoms with mobility disability (P<.01).</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Results indicate that self-assessed impaired sleep is common in old age and is associated with disability. <em></em></p><p class="Pa7"><em>Ethn Dis.</em>2016;26(4):521-528; doi:10.18865/ ed.26.4.521</p><strong></strong>

Is purpose in life associated with less sleep disturbance in older adults?

“…Consistent with previous work (Rongve et al 2010), the possible presence of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) was measured using questions 2 and 3 from the MSQ (Turner et al 2016). In addition, the MSQ was also used to assess for REM Behavior Disorder (RBD) via questions 1a-e, scored as previously published and validated (Turner et al 2016;Boeve et al 2011). …”

“…Additionally, adjustments were made with regard to specific questions in order to avoid redundancy and over taxing of the older adult cohort (see (Turner et al 2016) for full description of scale). The sum of the 6 components ranges from 0 to 16 with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality (Turner et al 2016).…”

“…Additionally, adjustments were made with regard to specific questions in order to avoid redundancy and over taxing of the older adult cohort (see (Turner et al 2016) for full description of scale). The sum of the 6 components ranges from 0 to 16 with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality (Turner et al 2016). Sleep apnea risk was assessed using the Berlin Questionnaire, which was scored as previously published and validated (Netzer et al 1999), indicating either a high or low risk for sleep apnea (Turner et al 2016).…”

“…The sum of the 6 components ranges from 0 to 16 with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality (Turner et al 2016). Sleep apnea risk was assessed using the Berlin Questionnaire, which was scored as previously published and validated (Netzer et al 1999), indicating either a high or low risk for sleep apnea (Turner et al 2016). Consistent with previous work (Rongve et al 2010), the possible presence of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) was measured using questions 2 and 3 from the MSQ (Turner et al 2016).…”

“…Sleep apnea risk was assessed using the Berlin Questionnaire, which was scored as previously published and validated (Netzer et al 1999), indicating either a high or low risk for sleep apnea (Turner et al 2016). Consistent with previous work (Rongve et al 2010), the possible presence of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) was measured using questions 2 and 3 from the MSQ (Turner et al 2016). In addition, the MSQ was also used to assess for REM Behavior Disorder (RBD) via questions 1a-e, scored as previously published and validated (Turner et al 2016;Boeve et al 2011).…”