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The siesta in the elderly: risk factor for mortality?
M Bursztyn1, G Ginsberg, R Hammerman-Rozenberg
1Department of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel. bursz@cc.huji.ac.il
Archives of Internal Medicine
|July 27, 1999
Summary
Daytime naps, or siestas, were associated with a doubled risk of mortality in older adults. This study suggests that napping may increase cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, impacting overall survival.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Daytime sleep (siesta) is associated with blood pressure declines similar to nocturnal sleep.
- Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events often occur in the morning due to maximal hemodynamic changes from nocturnal baseline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that daytime napping (siesta) may increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, and consequently, mortality.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, population-based cohort study involving 455 residents of Jerusalem aged 70 years.
- Data collected included self-reported siesta habits at baseline and total mortality over a 6.5-year follow-up period.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of siesta practice was 60.7%, being more common in men and in individuals with a history of myocardial infarction.
- After 6.5 years, total mortality was 20% in siesta practitioners versus 11% in non-practitioners (P=.01).
- Siesta practice remained a significant predictor of mortality in a multivariate logistic regression model (OR=2.1, P=.03).
Conclusions:
- Daytime napping (siesta) is independently associated with an increased risk of total mortality in older adults.
- The findings suggest a potential link between siesta and adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes.