Association of time-varying sleep duration and cognitive function with mortality in the elderly: a 12-year community-based cohort study

Tsai-Chung Li; Chia-Ing Li; Chiu-Shong Liu; Chih-Hsueh Lin; Shing-Yu Yang; Cheng-Chieh Lin

doi:10.1186/s12888-023-05434-z

Association of time-varying sleep duration and cognitive function with mortality in the elderly: a 12-year community-based cohort study

BMC Psychiatry. 2023 Dec 20;23(1):954. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-05434-z.

Authors

Tsai-Chung Li^{1

2}, Chia-Ing Li^{3

4}, Chiu-Shong Liu^{3

4

5}, Chih-Hsueh Lin^{3

5}, Shing-Yu Yang¹, Cheng-Chieh Lin^{6

7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
³ School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung City, 406040, Taiwan ROC.
⁴ Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁶ School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung City, 406040, Taiwan ROC. 002229@tool.caaumed.org.tw.
⁷ Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 002229@tool.caaumed.org.tw.
⁸ Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 002229@tool.caaumed.org.tw.

Abstract

Background: Sleeping problems and cognitive impairment are common in elders. Baseline sleep duration and cognitive status are predictors of mortality. But few studies have explored whether longitudinal changes in sleep duration and cognitive function are related to mortality in older adults. The present study investigated the time-varying relationships of sleep duration and cognitive function with subsequent mortality among community-dwelling elders by using 12 years of repeated-measure data.

Methods: Taichung Community Health Study for Elders (TCHS-E) is a retrospective, population-based cohort that started in 2009 (wave 1) with a total of 912 elders aged 65 years or above. Follow up was conducted in 2010 (wave 2), 2018 (wave 3), and 2020 (wave 4). Sleep duration and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) forms were executed at baseline and three visits during follow-up. Time-varying Cox proportional hazards regression estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: During about 12 years (9,396 person-years) follow-up, 329 deaths from all causes were documented, including 102 deaths due to expanded cardiovascular disease (CVD). In the multivariable-adjusted, time-varying Cox proportional hazard model, the adjusted HR values of all-cause mortality were 1.47 (1.02-2.12) for sleep duration > 9 h/day (vs. 7 h/day) and 1.81 (1.26-2.59) for MMSE < 27 (vs. 30). The adjusted HR values of the expanded CVD mortality were 2.91 (1.24-6.83) for MMSE of 29; 2.69 (1.20-6.05) for MMSE of 27-28; and 4.32 (95% CI: 1.92-9.74) for MMSE < 27. The dose-dependent relationship was significant (p < 0.001). The combinations of sleep duration longer than 9 h/day and MMSE < 27 were linked with the highest risks for expanded CVD and all-cause mortality.

Conclusions: Long sleep duration and low cognitive function were jointly and independently linked with higher risk of mortality in elders residing in community.

Keywords: Mini-Mental State Examination; Mortality; Older adults; Sleep duration.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Cardiovascular Diseases*
Cognition
Cognitive Dysfunction*
Cohort Studies
Humans
Retrospective Studies
Sleep
Sleep Duration