Persistently short or long sleep duration increases the risk of sensory impairment in Chinese older adults

Ling Yang; Jing Du; Ying Duan; Yan Cui; Qi Qi; Zihao Liu; Huaqing Liu

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1329134

Persistently short or long sleep duration increases the risk of sensory impairment in Chinese older adults

Front Public Health. 2024 Feb 29:12:1329134. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1329134. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Ling Yang¹, Jing Du¹, Ying Duan¹, Yan Cui¹, Qi Qi¹, Zihao Liu¹, Huaqing Liu¹

Affiliation

¹ School of Public Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, Anhui, China.

Abstract

Background: Cross-sectional evidence suggests that persistently short or long sleep duration is associated with sensory impairment. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the associations between sleep duration and altered sleep duration with sensory impairment in Chinese older adults.

Methods: Longitudinal data (2008-2014) obtained through the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) were analyzed. Sleep duration was classified as normal (7-8 h), short (<7 h), or long (≥9 h). Sensory impairment was assessed using individuals' self-reported data on visual and hearing functions. Cox regression was performed to evaluate the effects of sleep duration and altered sleep duration on sensory impairment, including visual impairment (VI) and hearing impairment (HI).

Results: This study included 3,578 older adults (mean age: 78.12 ± 9.59 years). Among them, 2,690 (75.2%) were aged 65-84 years and 1798 (50.3%) were women. The risks of VI (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.29), HI (HR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.00-1.30), and dual sensory impairment (both VI and HI; HR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.03-1.55) were high in older adults with long sleep duration. In addition, the risks of VI, HI, and dual sensory impairment were high in individuals whose sleep duration changed from normal to short or long (HR: 1.20 [95% CI: 1.02-1.42], 1.26 [95% CI: 1.03-1.53], and 1.54 [95% CI: 1.11-2.12], respectively) and those with persistently short or long sleep duration (HR: 1.25 [95% CI: 1.07-1.46], 1.34 [95% CI: 1.11-1.61], and 1.67 [95% CI: 1.22-2.27], respectively).

Conclusion: A prospective association was identified between altered sleep duration and sensory impairment in Chinese older adults. Our findings highlight the importance of optimal sleep duration and healthy sleep habits in preventing sensory impairment in older adults.

Keywords: CLHLS; altered sleep duration; hearing impairment; older adults; sensory impairment; sleep duration; visual impairment.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
China / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Hearing
Humans
Male
Sleep Duration*
Sleep*

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The work was supported by the 512 Talent training Project of Bengbu Medical University (BY51201203).