title: Self-reported sleep latency in postmenopausal women.
abstract: The aim of this study was to access how self-reported sleep latency (SRSL) was affected by sleep habits, mood, and circadian rhythm in postmenopausal women. Subjects (n=384, 67.9+/-7.7 yr) completed sleep and mood questionnaires, sleep log and actigraphic data. The major urinary melatonin metabolite (6-sulphatoxymelatonin, aMT6s) was assayed in fractional urine specimens for two 24-hr intervals. Although SRSL (26.5+/-24.4 min) and actigraphic sleep latency (ASL; 27.8+/-20.0 min) were correlated (r(s)=0.361, p<0.001), the short SRSLs tended to be underestimated whereas the long SRSLs tended to be overestimated as compared to ASL. SRSL was positively correlated with the scales of insomnia, mood and hot flash, hypertension, use of anti-hypertensive drugs and the acrophase and the offset of aMT6s. SRSL was negatively correlated with the global assessment of functioning scale in DSM-IV (GAF scale), and light exposure and wrist activity. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the best-fit model to predict SRSL was light exposure, GAF scale, and use of anti-hypertensive drugs. SRSL may be determined by psychophysiological factors as well as circadian rhythm function. Therapeutic approaches suggested for trouble falling asleep might include increased daylight exposure, improvements in general health, and modification of anti-hypertensive pharmacotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. dhpark@kuh.ac.kr
authors.forename: Doo Heum
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kripke
authors.forename: Girardin Jean
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Melville R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Klauber
authors.forename: Katharine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rex
authors.forename: Arja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuunainen
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Langer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C054513:6-sulfatoxymelatonin; D008550:Melatonin