The experience of insomnia among older women.
OBJECTIVE
To measure sleeping difficulty and sleep quality among older women, explore experience and attitudes towards sleep, and test for negative association between difficulty sleeping and health-related quality of life.


METHODS
Four-year longitudinal study.


METHODS
Women were participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health.


METHODS
Women were sampled according to use of sleeping medication and classified into 4 groups: sleeping badly and using sleeping medications; not sleeping badly, but using sleeping medications; sleeping badly, not using sleeping medications; not sleeping badly, not using sleeping medications.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Sleeping difficulty and sleeping-medication use were measured at Survey 1, Survey 2 (3 years later), and Survey 3 (4 years later). Survey 3 included: Nottingham Health Profile Sleep Subscale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Duke Social Support Index, Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-item Health Survey, and a 21-item life events scale. Survey 3 was returned by 1011 women (84%). Sleeping problems were negatively associated with SF-36 subscale scores. Most associations remained significant after comorbid conditions, Geriatric Depression Scale, life events scores, and medication use were added to models. Most women with sleeping problems (72%) sought help from a doctor, and 54% used prescribed sleeping medications in the past month.


CONCLUSIONS
Sleeping difficulty is a serious symptom for older women and is associated with poorer quality of life. Some of this effect can be explained by comorbidities, depression scores, life events, and use of sleeping medications.
Byles
Julie E
JE
Centre for Research and Education in Ageing, Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, Royal Newcastle Hospital, New South Wales, Australia. Julie.Byles@newcastle.edu.au
Mishra
Gita D
GD
Harris
Margaret A
MA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives