Sleep Quality, Body Mass Index and Waist-to-Hip Ratio in Older Adults

Abstract

Introduction

Sleep quality and weight are inversely correlated in young adults (i.e., as weight increases, sleep quality decreases), but results are still inconsistent among older adults.

Objective

To examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) with sleep quality in older adults.

Method

513 participants >60 years old were recruited. Data on BMI, WHR, age, gender, alcohol consumption, depression, comorbidities, and sleep (Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)) were collected. Univariate and multivariate linear regression methods were used to evaluate the association between BMI, WHR and PSQI.

Results

503 participants were included. There was a significant association between BMI (β = 0.10 95%CI: 0.04 to 0.15) and PSQI in the linear analysis, but not confirmed in the multivariate regression. No significant associations were observed between WHR and PSQI.

Conclusion

Neither BMI nor WHR were related to sleep quality in the older population.

Keywords:

• Sleep
• obesity
• anthropometrics
• elderly
• geriatrics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brazil (CAPES – Finance Code 001) and Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa (AFIP). MLA, RZP and ST are fellowship recipients from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). GLF is supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq - 141445/2021-1).