Longitudinal Study of Insomnia Symptoms Among Women During Perimenopause

Abstract

Objective: To describe the prevalence of insomnia symptoms among women during perimenopause and to examine differences in self-reported insomnia symptoms at different stages of perimenopause over 10 years.

Design: Secondary analysis of self-reported sleep symptoms and clinical variables using 10 years of publicly available data from the Study of Women Across the Nation (SWAN).

Setting: The data set of women's insomnia symptoms was obtained from publicly available data from the SWAN. The parent study settings included Detroit, Michigan; Northern New Jersey; Los Angeles, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Participants: Multiethnic midlife women with a mean age of 46 years (N = 3,302) categorized as pre- and perimenopausal at baseline.

Methods: Dependent variables included self-reported insomnia symptoms: difficulty falling asleep (sleep latency), wake after sleep onset, early morning awakenings, and sleep quality. Descriptive analysis was completed for each 1-year study interval. Repeated measures logistic regression was used to identify whether insomnia symptoms changed over time by stage of perimenopause.

Results: Insomnia symptoms were present in 31% to 42% of perimenopausal women at any 1-year study interval. Insomnia symptoms were more prevalent in the late stage of perimenopause than the early stage (p < .001). The odds of having any insomnia symptoms were 1.3 times greater for women in the late stage of perimenopause than in the early stage (95% confidence interval [1.2, 1.5], p < .001).

Conclusion: Insomnia symptoms are prevalent in women transitioning to menopause, and stage of perimenopause may heighten the risk to develop symptoms of insomnia disorder, which is associated with negative cardiometabolic outcomes.

Keywords: climacteric; insomnia; menopause; perimenopause; sleep disturbances; women.