title: Correlates of sleep problems among men: the Vietnam Era Twin Registry.
abstract: The Vietnam Era Twin (VET) Registry includes 14,800 male twins born 1939-55 and in military service in 1964-75. A mailed health survey including the Jenkins Sleep Questionnaire was sent to 11,959 members and 8,870 (74.2%) provided responses on the frequency of sleep problems in the previous month. Prevalence of those experiencing conditions at least 1 day per month was 67.2% for waking often, 61.5% for waking tired/worn out, 48.1% for trouble falling asleep and 48.6% for awakening early. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to estimate sleep problems from demographic, behaviour and lifestyle characteristics, and morbid conditions. Black (vs. white) race, older age, church/religious group participation, social support, employment, cigarette smoking, light physical activity, and strenuous physical activity were associated with lower risk of one or more sleep problems. Eleven morbid conditions with a prevalence of 1% or more, coffee consumption, heavy alcohol consumption, and Framingham Type A behaviour pattern were associated with a higher risk of sleep problems. These analyses suggest that sleep problems may be one of the mechanisms relating reduced quality of life to many physical and behavioural characteristics. Fortunately, a number of the risk factors associated with sleep problems are lifestyle characteristics which, if modified, may reduce sleep problems.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Fabsitz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sholinsky
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014427:Twins / Q000523:psychology*; D014434:Type A Personality; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014744:Vietnam; D014857:Warfare