Prevalence and risk factors for insomnia in community-dwelling elderly in northern Taiwan

Background/PurposeTo determine the prevalence and risk factors for insomnia among community-dwelling elderly in northern Taiwan.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1358 elderly people (601 men, 44.3%; and 757 women, 55.7%) who had received a senior-citizen health examination between March 2009 and November 2009. Responses to a clinical questionnaire on insomnia (Chinese version of the Athens insomnia scale), mental health (brief symptom rating scale), and 14 physical symptoms were measured.ResultsInsomnia syndrome was found in 41% of individuals; it was more common in women than in men (63.3.0% vs. 36.7%). Multivariate models showed that aging [≥80 years old, odds ratio (OR) = 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.46–0.93], living with family (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.35–0.76), and perceived good health status (OR = 0.58 and 0.71, p<0.05) were associated with a decreased risk of insomnia. Meanwhile, female gender (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.37–2.12), receipt of medication for chronic diseases (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.29–2.08), high brief symptom rating scale score (1.45, 95% CI: 1.32–1.86), perceived poor health status (OR = 1.92 and 1.80, p<0.05), and total physical symptoms (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.08–1.70) were associated with an increased risk of insomnia.ConclusionThe results indicate that the aging process itself is not responsible for the increased prevalence of insomnia often reported in older people. Instead, physical symptoms, receipt of medication for chronic diseases, mental health status, living status, and perceived level of well-being affected the risk of insomnia.