Sleep-related factors and mobility in older men and women.
BACKGROUND
To examine the association between sleep-related factors and measured and self-reported mobility in a representative sample of older adults.


METHODS
This study included 2,825 men and women aged 55 years and older participating in a cross-sectional representative population-based Health 2000 Survey in Finland. Sleep duration, insomnia-related symptoms, and fatigue were inquired. Maximal walking speed was measured, and mobility limitation was defined as self-reported difficulties in walking 500 m or stair climbing.


RESULTS
Insomnia-related symptoms and fatigue were prevalent among persons aged 65 years and older in particular. After adjusting for lifestyle factors and diseases, longer sleep (>/=9 hours) was associated with a decreased walking speed in women aged 65 or more years (p = .04) and shorter sleep (</=6 hours) with a higher odds for mobility limitation in women aged 65 or more years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-2.75) and in men aged 55-64 years (OR = 3.62, 95% CI = 1.40-9.37) compared with those having a mid-range sleep duration. Sleeping disorders or insomnia was independently associated with both decreased walking speed and mobility limitation in men aged 55 or more years but only with mobility limitation in women aged 65 or more years. Of the sleep-related daytime consequences, "weakness or tiredness" was associated with a decreased walking speed and a higher odds for mobility limitation both in men and in women aged 55 or more years.


CONCLUSIONS
Several sleep-related factors, such as sleep duration, insomnia-related symptoms, and fatigue, are associated with measured and self-reported mobility outcomes.
Functional Capacity Unit, Department of Health, Functional Capacity and Welfare, National Institute for Health and Welfare, FI-20720 Turku, Finland. sari.stenholm@thl.fi
Sari
S
Stenholm
Erkki
E
Kronholm
Päivi
P
Sainio
Katja
K
Borodulin
Pertti
P
Era
Mikael
M
Fogelholm
Timo
T
Partonen
Tarja
T
Porkka-Heiskanen
Seppo
S
Koskinen
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012647:Self-Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking