Sleep medication use and falls risk among African Americans with dementia

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundSleep disturbances and falls are frequent in older adults and risk increases with increasing age (M. Ohayon, 2002; World Health Organization, 2007), especially for those people living with dementia (PLWD). While existing research sheds light on the difference between high‐ and low‐ frequency sleep medication use in people with and without dementia (L. Anderson, 2021), little evidence exists in the nature of racial differences. This study seeks to determine the differential effect of high versus low frequency sleep medication use in non‐Hispanic Blacks with dementia.MethodWe used data from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study (n = 8,245) to create logistic regression models examining the association high‐ versus low‐ frequency sleep medication use with falls in community‐dwelling non‐Hispanic Blacks living with dementia. High‐frequency sleep medication use was defined as 5 or more nights per week, while low‐frequency sleep medication use was defined as 4 or fewer nights per week.ResultIn our fully adjusted model, non‐Hispanic Blacks living with dementia (n = 121) who were high‐frequency sleep medication users were much more likely to fall compared to non‐Hispanic Blacks living with dementia who were low‐frequency sleep medication users (OR = 7.59, 95% CI: 2.86, 20.13). Fully adjusted model controlled for sociodemographic characteristics, anxiety, depression, arthritis, diabetes, and hypertension.ConclusionAfter controlling for potential confounders, non‐Hispanic Blacks living with dementia and having high‐frequency sleep medication usage are over 7 times more likely to fall compared with non‐Hispanic Blacks with dementia who have low‐frequency sleep medication usage. Reducing sleep medication use in this population may help reduce the risk of falls and fall‐related outcomes.