Relationship between sleep duration and falls in older Mexican Americans: Sex differences in a longitudinal study

To examine the effect of sex in the relationship of sleep duration, sleep disorders, and sleep quality with falls among older Mexican Americans without history of falls at baseline over 9 years of follow up.

Participants (N = 701) were from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (2007/08-2016). Independent variables were sleep duration (≤5, 6, 7, 8, 9, ≥10 h/night), sleep disorders and sleep quality. The outcome variable was falls, categorized as none versus ≥1 falls. Covariates included socio-demographics and health characteristics. Generalized estimating equation models were performed to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and 95 % Confidence Interval (CI) of falls over time as a function of sleep duration, sleep disorders, and sleep quality, controlling for all covariates.

Male participants who reported sleep of ≤5 h/night had greater odds (OR = 5.43, 95 % CI = 1.70-17.3) of falls over time compared to those who slept 8 h/night, after controlling for all covariates. Males with trouble falling asleep or poor quality of sleep had greater odds (OR = 2.35, 95 % CI = 1.23-4.49; OR = 2.38, 95 % CI = 1.12-5, respectively) of falls over time, after controlling for all covariates. No significant association was found between sleep duration, disorders, or quality with falls among females.

Older Mexican American males with short sleep duration, sleep disorders, and poor sleep quality had greater odds of falls over time. Sleep health promotions and behavioral interventions may reduce the risk of falls and injuries or death due to falls in this population.