Elevated sleep disturbance among blacks in an urban family medicine practice

Blacks experience a number of health disparities. Sleep disturbances contribute to poor health. This preliminary study explores whether a disparity in sleep disturbances exists among blacks compared with whites and others.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample (n = 92) of urban primary care patients (52% black, 46% white, and 2% other) from a university-based family medicine practice. Mean (SD) age was 51.9 years (8.9 years). Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Revised, and a checklist of chronic health conditions.

The rate of clinically meaningful sleep disturbance was 71%. In bivariate logistic regressions, black race was associated with sleep disturbance (odds ratio [OR], 3.00; 95% CI, 1.17-7.69). Controlling for income attenuated that association by about 11% (race OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.04-7.06). Education explained about 35% (race OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 0.89-6.42). Adjustment for depression, chronic illness, and education simultaneously resulted in an estimate for race of OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 0.85-7.01.

Being black is associated with a sleep disturbance that is accounted for only partially by depression, socioeconomic status, and disease burden. Black primary care patients may benefit from additional screening and monitoring of sleep difficulties.