Factors Associated with Insomnia among the Elderly in a Korean Rural Community

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sleep Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Sleep disturbance is a prevalent issue among the elderly, stemming from diverse socio-demographic, behavioral, and clinical factors.
• South Korea faces a rapidly growing aged population, making the study of elderly health issues critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific factors associated with insomnia among elderly individuals in a rural South Korean community.
• To inform targeted interventions for improving sleep quality in the aging population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing data from the Korean Social life, Health and Ageing Project (KSHAP).
• Face-to-face interviews collected socio-demographic, behavioral, and clinical data from 509 elderly participants.
• Multiple logistic regression analysis identified independent risk factors for insomnia.

Main Results:

• Insomnia affected 32.4% of the elderly participants (average age 72.8 years).
• Independent risk factors for insomnia included female sex, low education level, current smoking, multiple chronic diseases, and depression.
• Odds ratios indicated significant associations: female sex (2.19), low education (2.44), smoking (2.26), chronic diseases (2.06-2.21), and depression (2.53).

Conclusions:

• Sex, education, chronic disease burden, and depression are significant independent predictors of insomnia in rural elderly Koreans.
• Interventions focusing on modifiable factors, particularly depression, are recommended to address insomnia in the elderly.
• Further longitudinal research across diverse regions is needed to promote active aging and comprehensive understanding of elderly insomnia.