Racial/Ethnic Differences in Sleep Quality among Older Adults: Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) Study

Ethn Dis. 2020 Jul 9;30(3):469-478. doi: 10.18865/ed.30.3.469. eCollection 2020 Summer.

Abstract

Background: We assessed cross-sectional differences in sleep quality and risk factors among Asian, Black, Latino, and White participants in the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) Study.

Methods: KHANDLE enrolled community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years living in northern California. Participants completed a modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to measure six sleep components and a global sleep score (scored 0-24). Covariates included age, sex, central adiposity, education, income, alcohol consumption, ever smoking, physical activity, and depression. Ordinal logistic regression was used to model sleep component scores across race/ethnic groups. Linear regression was used to assess racial/ethnic differences in global sleep score and the association between risk factors and global sleep score.

Results: 1,664 participants with a mean age of 76 (SD=7) and mean global sleep score of 6 (SD=4) were analyzed. Using Latinos as reference (highest average sleep score), Blacks had an average .96 (.37, 1.54) unit higher global sleep score (worse sleep) while Asians [β: .04 (-.56, .63)] and Whites [β: .28 (-.29, .84)] did not significantly differ. Compared with Latinos, Blacks and Asians had greater odds of a worse score on the sleep duration component; Blacks and Whites had greater odds of a worse score on the sleep disturbances component; and, Whites had greater odds of a worse score on the medication component. Risk factors for poor sleep did not differ by race/ethnicity except alcohol consumption (interaction P=.04), which was associated with poor sleep in Blacks only.

Conclusions: In this cohort, racial/ethnic differences in sleep quality were common.

Keywords: Disparities; Older Adults; Risk Factors; Sleep.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Ethnicity* / classification
  • Ethnicity* / psychology
  • Ethnicity* / statistics & numerical data
  • Exercise
  • Female
  • Healthy Aging / ethnology*
  • Healthy Aging / physiology
  • Healthy Aging / psychology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychology
  • Risk Factors
  • Sleep Hygiene
  • Sleep Wake Disorders* / ethnology
  • Sleep Wake Disorders* / physiopathology
  • Sleep Wake Disorders* / psychology
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • United States / epidemiology