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Slee** time is associated with functional limitations in a national sample of older Americans

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Abstract

Background

Engaging in healthy behaviors may help to preserve function during aging; however, it is not well understood how slee** time is associated with functional capacity in older adults.

Aims

We sought to determine the association of slee** time on functional limitation in a national sample of older Americans.

Methods

The analytical sample included 6020 adults aged at least 65 years who participated in the 2007–2016 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Respondents indicated their hours of sleep/weeknight and were categorized as < 5, 5–6.5, 7–8, 8.5–9, and > 9 h of sleep/weeknight. Ability to complete 19 functional tasks including basic activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, leisure and social activities, lower extremity mobility activities, and general physical activities were also self-reported. A covariate-adjusted logistic model analyzed the associations between each slee** time category and functional limitation.

Results

Relative to those reporting 7–8 h of sleep/weeknight, older Americans reporting < 5, 5–6.5, 8.5–9, and > 9 h of sleep/weeknight had 1.66 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05, 2.62], 1.25 (CI: 1.02, 1.52), 1.59 (CI: 1.19, 2.12), and 2.99 (CI: 1.96, 4.56) greater odds for functional limitation, respectively.

Discussion

Sleep should be recognized as a health factor that may reflect functional capacity in older adults. Healthcare providers should discuss the importance of optimal sleep with their older patients and older adults should practice healthy slee** behaviors for preserving function.

Conclusions

Not meeting optimal sleep recommendations is associated with functional limitations in older Americans.

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Funding

The authors have no funding disclosures.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Statistics, North Dakota State University, 1230 Albrecht Blvd, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA

    Brenda M. Vincent & Bong-** Choi

  2. Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

    Nathaniel Johnson & Ryan McGrath

  3. Department of Education, Health and Behavior Studies, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA

    Grant R. Tomkinson

  4. Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Grant R. Tomkinson

  5. Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

    Brian C. Clark

  6. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

    Brian C. Clark

  7. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

    Brian C. Clark

Authors
  1. Brenda M. Vincent
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  2. Nathaniel Johnson
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  4. Ryan McGrath
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  6. Bong-** Choi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brenda M. Vincent.

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Ethical approval

NHANES data analyzed in this study are publicly available and protocols used to collect these data have been approved by the National Center for Health Statistics Research Ethics Review Board.

Human and animal rights

NHANES protocols were approved by the National Center for Health Statistics Research Ethics Review Board. Approved protocol numbers can be found on the NHANES website [44].

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Written informed consent was provided by participants before entering the NHANES.

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Vincent, B.M., Johnson, N., Tomkinson, G.R. et al. Slee** time is associated with functional limitations in a national sample of older Americans. Aging Clin Exp Res 33, 175–182 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-020-01524-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-020-01524-0

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