Abstract
<p><strong>Objective.</strong> To investigate sleeping problems, sleep duration and associated factors in a national probability sample of older South Africans who participated in the Study of Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) in 2008.</p><p><strong> Methods.</strong> In 2008 I conducted a national population-based cross-sectional study with a sample of 3 840 South African individuals aged ≥50 years. A questionnaire was used to survey sociodemographic characteristics and health variables, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were recorded.</p><p><strong> Results.</strong> Of the participants, 9.1% reported having a sleeping problem at the time of the study. The average number of self-reported hours of sleep was 8.6 (SD ±2.1), with 11.6%, 45.1%, 20.0%, and 23.5% reporting ≤6, 7 - 8, 9, and ≥10 h, respectively. In multivariable analysis, depression, cognitive impairment, lack of social cohesion, and moderate or severe activity limitations were associated with having a current sleeping problem. In terms of sociodemographic and health variables, a short sleep duration was associated with: white, Indian/Asian or coloured ethnicity; daily tobacco use; and moderate and severe activity limitations. In participants aged 60 - 79 years, lower wealth, hypertension, risky drinking and lower health-related quality of life were associated with a long sleeping duration.</p><p><strong> Conclusion.</strong> This study robustly characterised the prevalence of sleeping problems and specific associated risk factors in a large sample in South Africa. This can help to direct future healthcare efforts.</p>
Highlights
ObjectiveSleep duration and associated factors in a national probability sample of older South Africans who participated in the Study of Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) in 2008
Factors positively associated with the fifth percentile (≤4 h 30 min) of night-time sleep duration were obesity, poor health, insomnia, and insomnia accompanied by daytime sleepiness and cognitive impairment
I investigated sleeping problems, sleep duration and associated factors in a national probability sample of older South Africans who participated in the Study of Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) in 2008
Summary
Sleep duration and associated factors in a national probability sample of older South Africans who participated in the Study of Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) in 2008. Ethnic or population group differences were found, e.g. American whites reported more sleep problems than non-whites,[12] and black Americans were more likely to report both short and long sleep duration than white Americans.[13] Urban residence was associated with more reports of sleep complaints among older adults in some studies.[3,14] In terms of health and social factors, sleep complaints were associated with: high pain scores,[3] poor self-rated health,[3,15] lower health-related quality of life (QoL),[15] higher memory impairment score,[3] major depression, mild cognitive impairment,[3] lower levels of physical activity,[3] smoking,[16] risky alcohol use,[9] and a high number of co-morbidities (hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity and other metabolic disorders)[3] and lower levels of emotional social support or single marital status.[17] Elders with poorer health status or older age were more likely to have either a relatively shorter (≤6 h) or longer (≥10 h) sleep duration.[6] In comparison with women who slept 7 h, those with extreme sleep durations (≤5 or ≥10 h) reported worse scores on the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) physical and mental scales.[18] Factors positively associated with the fifth percentile (≤4 h 30 min) of night-time sleep duration were obesity, poor health, insomnia, and insomnia accompanied by daytime sleepiness and cognitive impairment. I investigated sleeping problems, sleep duration and associated factors in a national probability sample of older South Africans who participated in the Study of Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) in 2008
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