Sleep duration and health among older adults: Associations vary by how sleep is meas

Diane S. Lauderdale; Jen Hao Chen; Lianne M. Kurina; Linda J. Waite; Ronald A. Thisted

doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2015-206109

Sleep duration and health among older adults: Associations vary by how sleep is meas

Diane S. Lauderdale, Jen Hao Chen, Lianne M. Kurina, Linda J. Waite, Ronald A. Thisted

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Cohort studies have found that short and long sleep are both associated with worse outcomes, compared with intermediate sleep times. While demonstrated biological mechanisms could explain health effects for short sleep, long-sleep risk is puzzling. Most studies reporting the U shape use a single question about sleep duration, a measurement method that does not correlate highly with objectively measured sleep. We hypothesised that the U shape, especially the poor outcomes for long sleepers, may be an artefact of how sleep is measured. Methods We examined the cross-sectional prevalence of fair/poor health by sleep hour categories (≤6, ≤7, ≤8, ≤9, >9 h) in a national US sample of adults aged 62-90 that included several types of sleep measures (n=727). Survey measures were: a single question; usual bedtimes and waking times; and a 3-day sleep log. Actigraphy measures were the sleep interval and total sleep time. Fair/poor health was regressed on sleep hour categories adjusted for demographics, with tests for both linear trend and U shape. Results Adjusted OR of fair/poor health across sleep hour categories from the single question were 4.6, 2.2, referent (8 h), 1.8 and 6.9. There was high prevalence of fair/poor health for ≤6 h for all sleep measures, but the long-sleep effect was absent for sleep logs and actigraphy measures. Conclusions Associations between long sleep and poor health may be specific to studies measuring sleep with survey questions. As cohorts with actigraphy mature, our understanding of how sleep affects health may change.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	361-366
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Volume	70
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2015-206109
State	Published - 2016
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Epidemiology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Access to Document

https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2015-206109

Cite this

@article{6a875a76cdf64454be4c4824a618557b,

title = "Sleep duration and health among older adults: Associations vary by how sleep is meas",

abstract = "Background Cohort studies have found that short and long sleep are both associated with worse outcomes, compared with intermediate sleep times. While demonstrated biological mechanisms could explain health effects for short sleep, long-sleep risk is puzzling. Most studies reporting the U shape use a single question about sleep duration, a measurement method that does not correlate highly with objectively measured sleep. We hypothesised that the U shape, especially the poor outcomes for long sleepers, may be an artefact of how sleep is measured. Methods We examined the cross-sectional prevalence of fair/poor health by sleep hour categories (≤6, ≤7, ≤8, ≤9, >9 h) in a national US sample of adults aged 62-90 that included several types of sleep measures (n=727). Survey measures were: a single question; usual bedtimes and waking times; and a 3-day sleep log. Actigraphy measures were the sleep interval and total sleep time. Fair/poor health was regressed on sleep hour categories adjusted for demographics, with tests for both linear trend and U shape. Results Adjusted OR of fair/poor health across sleep hour categories from the single question were 4.6, 2.2, referent (8 h), 1.8 and 6.9. There was high prevalence of fair/poor health for ≤6 h for all sleep measures, but the long-sleep effect was absent for sleep logs and actigraphy measures. Conclusions Associations between long sleep and poor health may be specific to studies measuring sleep with survey questions. As cohorts with actigraphy mature, our understanding of how sleep affects health may change.",

author = "Lauderdale, {Diane S.} and Chen, {Jen Hao} and Kurina, {Lianne M.} and Waite, {Linda J.} and Thisted, {Ronald A.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by R01AG042164 from the National Institute of Aging and the Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Opportunity Network (OppNet) at the National Institutes of Health. The core data collection in the National Social Life and Aging Project (NSHAP) was supported by R01 AG021487 and R01 AG033903 from the National Institute of Aging at the National Institutes of Health. The ancillary sleep data collection for NSHAP received additional support from Phillips Respironics and the Health and Retirement Survey.",

year = "2016",

doi = "https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2015-206109",

language = "American English",

volume = "70",

pages = "361--366",

journal = "Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health",

issn = "0143-005X",

publisher = "BMJ Publishing Group",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Sleep duration and health among older adults

T2 - Associations vary by how sleep is meas

AU - Lauderdale, Diane S.

AU - Chen, Jen Hao

AU - Kurina, Lianne M.

AU - Waite, Linda J.

AU - Thisted, Ronald A.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by R01AG042164 from the National Institute of Aging and the Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Opportunity Network (OppNet) at the National Institutes of Health. The core data collection in the National Social Life and Aging Project (NSHAP) was supported by R01 AG021487 and R01 AG033903 from the National Institute of Aging at the National Institutes of Health. The ancillary sleep data collection for NSHAP received additional support from Phillips Respironics and the Health and Retirement Survey.

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - Background Cohort studies have found that short and long sleep are both associated with worse outcomes, compared with intermediate sleep times. While demonstrated biological mechanisms could explain health effects for short sleep, long-sleep risk is puzzling. Most studies reporting the U shape use a single question about sleep duration, a measurement method that does not correlate highly with objectively measured sleep. We hypothesised that the U shape, especially the poor outcomes for long sleepers, may be an artefact of how sleep is measured. Methods We examined the cross-sectional prevalence of fair/poor health by sleep hour categories (≤6, ≤7, ≤8, ≤9, >9 h) in a national US sample of adults aged 62-90 that included several types of sleep measures (n=727). Survey measures were: a single question; usual bedtimes and waking times; and a 3-day sleep log. Actigraphy measures were the sleep interval and total sleep time. Fair/poor health was regressed on sleep hour categories adjusted for demographics, with tests for both linear trend and U shape. Results Adjusted OR of fair/poor health across sleep hour categories from the single question were 4.6, 2.2, referent (8 h), 1.8 and 6.9. There was high prevalence of fair/poor health for ≤6 h for all sleep measures, but the long-sleep effect was absent for sleep logs and actigraphy measures. Conclusions Associations between long sleep and poor health may be specific to studies measuring sleep with survey questions. As cohorts with actigraphy mature, our understanding of how sleep affects health may change.

AB - Background Cohort studies have found that short and long sleep are both associated with worse outcomes, compared with intermediate sleep times. While demonstrated biological mechanisms could explain health effects for short sleep, long-sleep risk is puzzling. Most studies reporting the U shape use a single question about sleep duration, a measurement method that does not correlate highly with objectively measured sleep. We hypothesised that the U shape, especially the poor outcomes for long sleepers, may be an artefact of how sleep is measured. Methods We examined the cross-sectional prevalence of fair/poor health by sleep hour categories (≤6, ≤7, ≤8, ≤9, >9 h) in a national US sample of adults aged 62-90 that included several types of sleep measures (n=727). Survey measures were: a single question; usual bedtimes and waking times; and a 3-day sleep log. Actigraphy measures were the sleep interval and total sleep time. Fair/poor health was regressed on sleep hour categories adjusted for demographics, with tests for both linear trend and U shape. Results Adjusted OR of fair/poor health across sleep hour categories from the single question were 4.6, 2.2, referent (8 h), 1.8 and 6.9. There was high prevalence of fair/poor health for ≤6 h for all sleep measures, but the long-sleep effect was absent for sleep logs and actigraphy measures. Conclusions Associations between long sleep and poor health may be specific to studies measuring sleep with survey questions. As cohorts with actigraphy mature, our understanding of how sleep affects health may change.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84962555490&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84962555490&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2015-206109

DO - https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2015-206109

M3 - Article

C2 - 26530811

SN - 0143-005X

VL - 70

SP - 361

EP - 366

JO - Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

JF - Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

IS - 4

ER -

Sleep duration and health among older adults: Associations vary by how sleep is meas

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this