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Risk factors for late-life insomnia in a representative general practice sample
1Centre for Ageing and Rehabilitation Studies, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Northern General Hospital.
Summary
Depressed mood, poor physical health, and low physical activity significantly increase the risk of new-onset insomnia in older adults. Physical health issues were the most significant predictors of insomnia in this population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Primary Care Medicine
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Insomnia is prevalent in primary care, yet its natural history in older adults remains under-researched.
- Limited data exists on risk factors and outcomes for insomnia in elderly general practice populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the 8-year incidence of insomnia in an elderly primary care population.
- To identify health and lifestyle factors associated with new-onset insomnia in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of a nationally representative sample of 1042 elderly individuals, with follow-ups in 1989 and 1993.
- Logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for insomnia onset, controlling for age and sex.
Main Results:
- The incidence rate of new-onset insomnia was 3.1% per person-year.
- Significant independent risk factors included depressed mood (OR=4.41), lower physical health status (OR=1.19 per unit), and moderate/low physical activity (OR=1.91-2.14).
- Physical ill-health was a more substantial risk factor than mental ill-health.
Conclusions:
- Psychiatric, somatic, and lifestyle factors independently elevate insomnia risk in older primary care patients.
- These factors are more critical predictors of incident sleep disturbance than patient age or sex.