Sleep, health and visual impairment in the elderly

This study was undertaken in order to analyse the relationship between visual impairment and sleep in an elderly population. All 10 216 members of the pensioners’ association in two Swedish counties were asked to participate in a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire included questions on civil status, the general state of health, the occurrence of somatic diseases and symptoms, sleep, medication and vision. 6143 evaluable questionnaires were received, of which 39.5% were from men. The mean (s.d.) ages of the male and female participants were 73.0 (6.0) and 72.6 (6.7) years, respectively. Visual impairment was reported by 20.9% of the men and 32.9% of the women. The proportion of visual impairment increased with age and was more common in women in each age group. Poor sleep occurred in 14.4% of the men and 27.9% of the women. Among subjects with visual impairment, poor sleep, frequent awakenings and difficulties to fall asleep after awakening at night were all more common in both men and women. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, significant independent correlates of poor night’s sleep among the men were: visual impairment (odds ratio (OR) 1.3 95%, confidence interval (CI) 1.0–1.8) and poor health (OR 2.2, CI 1.6–3.0). Age, circulatory organ disease and diabetes were deleted by the logistic model. The significant independent correlates in women were: visual impairment (OR 1.6, CI 1.3–2.0) poor health (OR 2.6, CI 2.1–3.3) and circulatory organ diseases (OR 1.5 CI, 1.2–1.8). Age and diabetes were deleted by the logistic model. The results suggest that visual impairment could be an underestimated cause of sleep deterioration in the elderly.