Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026
05:59
Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System
Published on: October 20, 2023
3.3K
Sleep duration and mortality in the elderly: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Andressa Alves da Silva1, Renato Gorga Bandeira de Mello2, Camila Wohlgemuth Schaan2
1Postgraduate Studies Program in Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
BMJ Open
|February 19, 2016
Summary
Both short and long sleep durations increase mortality risk in older adults. Long sleep duration is specifically linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular death.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sleep Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Sleep duration is a critical factor in elderly health.
- Previous studies have suggested links between sleep patterns and mortality, but comprehensive analyses are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between short and long sleep duration and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in elderly individuals.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 population-based cohort studies.
- Included over 70,000 elderly individuals (≥60 years) with follow-up periods ranging from 3.4 to 35 years.
- Pooled analysis using random effects models to calculate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Main Results:
- Both short (RR 1.07; 95% CI 1.03-1.11) and long sleep duration (RR 1.33; 95% CI 1.24-1.43) were associated with increased all-cause mortality.
- Long sleep duration showed an association with cardiovascular mortality (RR 1.43; 95% CI 1.15-1.78).
- Daytime napping (≥30 min) was linked to higher all-cause mortality risk.
Conclusions:
- Short and long sleep durations are significant risk factors for all-cause mortality in the elderly.
- Long sleep duration is also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
314
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
314
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
345
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
345
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
311
In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
311
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
319
Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
319
01:00Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
330
Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are...
330
01:22Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption
801
As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
801