Sleep Complaints in Older Blacks: Do Demographic and Health Indices Explain Poor Sleep Quality and Duration?

Objective: To examine the relationship between measures of sleep quality and the presence of commonly encountered comorbid and sociodemographic conditions in elderly Black subjects. Method: Analyses included participants from the Baltimore Study of Black Aging (BSBA; n = 450; mean age 71.43 years; SD 9.21). Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) measured overall sleep pattern and quality. Self-reported and objective measures of physical and mental health data and demographic information were collected for all participants. Results: Sociodemographic and comorbid health factors were significantly associated with sleep quality. Results from regression analyses revealed that older age, current financial strain, interpersonal problems, and stress were unique predictors of worse sleep quality. Sleep duration was significantly correlated with age, depressive affect, interpersonal problems, and stress; only age was a unique significant predictor. While participants 62 years or younger had worse sleep quality with increasing levels of stress, there was no significant relationship between sleep quality and stress for participants 81 years and older. Conclusion: Several potential mechanisms may explain poor sleep in urban, community dwelling Blacks. Perceived stressors, including current financial hardship or hardship experienced for an extended time period throughout the lifespan, may influence sleep later in life

Sleep Disturbances among Older Adults in the United States, 2002–2012: Nationwide Inpatient Rates, Predictors, and Outcomes

Objective/Background: We examined the rates, predictors, and outcomes [mortality risk (MR), length of stay (LOS), and total charges (TC)] of sleep disturbances in older hospitalized patients. Patients/Methods: Using the U.S. Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2002–2012), older patients (≥60 years) were selected and rates of insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other sleep disturbances (OSD) were estimated using ICD-9CM. TC, adjusted for inflation, was of primary interest, while MR and LOS were secondary outcomes. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted. Results: Of 35,258,031 older adults, 263,865 (0.75%) had insomnia, 750,851 (2.13%) OSA and 21,814 (0.06%) OSD. Insomnia rates increased significantly (0.27% in 2002 to 1.29 in 2012, P-trend \u3c 0.001), with a similar trend observed for OSA (1.47 in 2006 to 5.01 in 2012, P-trend \u3c 0.001). TC (2012 $) for insomnia-related hospital admission increased over time from$22,250 in 2002 to $31,527 in 2012, and increased similarly for OSA and OSD; while LOS and MR both decreased. Women with any sleep disturbance had lower MR and TC than men, while Whites had consistently higher odds of insomnia, OSA, and OSD than older Blacks and Hispanics. Co-morbidities such as depression, cardiovascular risk factors, and neurological disorders steadily increased over time in patients with sleep disturbances. Conclusion: TC increased over time in patients with sleep disturbances while LOS and MR decreased. Further, research should focus on identifying the mechanisms that explain the association between increasing sleep disturbance rates and expenditures within hospital settings and the potential hospital expenditures of unrecognized sleep disturbances in the elderly

Correlates Of Life Satisfaction Among Middle-Aged and Older Black Adults

This study explored satisfaction across life domains (e.g., family, daily life, health, finances, city of residence) and correlates of satisfaction across domains. Black adults (n=93, age range=55-80) completed the domains of life satisfaction scale and measures of sociodemographic factors, personality, and mental/physical health. Participants’ satisfaction was highest for home condition, but lowest for health. Univariate analyses of variance demonstrated better life satisfaction in the oldest-old (80+) than the youngest-old (55-64; p\u3c.05), particularly in the domains of daily life/leisure, current financial situation, and total household income. Linear regression models suggested that higher satisfaction was associated with less education, less financial strain, lower depressive symptoms, and better self-rated physical health, although the pattern of results varied by domain. Satisfaction may increase with advancing old age, at least in some life domains. It can also vary across life domains and unique factors likely relate to satisfaction in each life domain

Personality AND Self-reported and Actigraphy-measured Sleep Health in Adulthood

Personality may be associated with sleep health, however, the majority of existing studies rely on self-reported measures of sleep (often focusing on sleep duration). The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between Big Five personality traits and self-reported and actigraphy measured sleep. This study included 3928 participants and a subsample of 441 participants from the Midlife in the United States study. Linear regressions were used to analyze the relationships between personality traits and sleep. Neuroticism was associated with more frequent actigraphy-measured waking after sleep onset, and several self-reported measures of sleep quality, including shorter sleep duration, longer sleep latency, and a greater number of insomnia symptoms. Agreeableness was associated with shorter actigraphy-measured sleep duration and more self-reported insomnia symptoms. Our findings support an association between Neuroticism and poor sleep, and suggest that Agreeableness may be associated with worse sleep health

Personality AND Self-reported and Actigraphy-measured Sleep Health in Adulthood

Personality may be associated with sleep health, however, the majority of existing studies rely on self-reported measures of sleep (often focusing on sleep duration). The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between Big Five personality traits and self-reported and actigraphy measured sleep. This study included 3928 participants and a subsample of 441 participants from the Midlife in the United States study. Linear regressions were used to analyze the relationships between personality traits and sleep. Neuroticism was associated with more frequent actigraphy-measured waking after sleep onset, and several self-reported measures of sleep quality, including shorter sleep duration, longer sleep latency, and a greater number of insomnia symptoms. Agreeableness was associated with shorter actigraphy-measured sleep duration and more self-reported insomnia symptoms. Our findings support an association between Neuroticism and poor sleep, and suggest that Agreeableness may be associated with worse sleep health

The Association Between Lipoproteins, Disability, and Physical Function Among Older Costa Rican Adults

Objective: To examine the relationship between total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) with disability and physical performance. Method: Wave 1 data were from Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (n = 2,827). Lipoprotein profiles were measured using blood samples. Disability and physical functioning were measured with activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs/IADLs) and objective assessment of physical performance. Results: Lower HDL-C was associated with greater ADL disability, and lower TC with longer time to pick-a-pencil and Time-Up-Go (TUG) test. Age interacted between (a) TG and lung function, chair stands, and pick-a-pencil, and (b) HDL-C and TUG. Stratification showed lower TG and longer time picking up a pencil only for those above 84 years. Based on significant interactions with sex, lower TC was associated with slower chair stand time in women and higher HDL-C with slower chair stand time in men. Discussion: Lower levels of lipoproteins may suggest worse physical function, but the association may differ by sex

Correlates Of Life Satisfaction Among Middle-Aged and Older Black Adults

This study explored satisfaction across life domains (e.g., family, daily life, health, finances, city of residence) and correlates of satisfaction across domains. Black adults (n=93, age range=55-80) completed the domains of life satisfaction scale and measures of sociodemographic factors, personality, and mental/physical health. Participants’ satisfaction was highest for home condition, but lowest for health. Univariate analyses of variance demonstrated better life satisfaction in the oldest-old (80+) than the youngest-old (55-64; p\u3c.05), particularly in the domains of daily life/leisure, current financial situation, and total household income. Linear regression models suggested that higher satisfaction was associated with less education, less financial strain, lower depressive symptoms, and better self-rated physical health, although the pattern of results varied by domain. Satisfaction may increase with advancing old age, at least in some life domains. It can also vary across life domains and unique factors likely relate to satisfaction in each life domain

Factor Structure of Cognitive Ability Measures in Older African Americans

This study examined the fluid-crystallized distinction of cognitive abilities in African Americans. We analyzed the factorial invariance of a battery of cognitive ability measures in a sample of 197 community-dwelling African American elders. Specifically, factorial invariance was tested in groups of African American elders differing in age (50-61 years, 62-79 years) and education (low, high). Using a partial invariance approach, if non-invariance was found between two groups, we explored the specific model parameters that contributed to the overall lack of invariance. the results indicated that the factor structure was confirmed in the sample as a whole. Evidence of strict invariance was found between age groups. However, a lack of invariance of specific factor loadings, intercepts, and uniqueness terms was found between education groups. the importance of highlighting idiosyncrasies in cognitive performance among African Americans is shown using a within group variation approach