Sleep Health and Falls Risk for Older Adults Living in Residential Aged Care and in Community Dwelling Settings

A Longitudinal Observation Study

Bibliographic Data

ID13775348
AuthorsSamantha Fien (0000-0003-0181-5458, Central Queensland University, Mackay, QLD, Australia, corresponding author), Natasha L Bennett (Central Queensland University, Mackay, QLD, Australia), Patrick J Owen (0000-0003-3924-9375, Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, VIC, Australia), Sean Alley (0000-0001-9666-5071, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia), Corneel Vandelanotte (0000-0002-4445-8094, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia), Madeline Sprajcer (0000-0002-4966-871X, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Wayville, SA, Australia), Kim Waters (0000-0003-1053-6127, Central Queensland University, Mackay, QLD, Australia), Steven T Moore (0000-0003-3995-4912, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia), Justin Keogh (0000-0001-9851-1068, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia), Justin W L Keogh (Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia), Grace E Vincent (0000-0002-7036-7823, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Wayville, SA, Australia)
Year2024
Volume61
Pages469580241306274-469580241306274
Publication date2024-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueINQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0046-9580 • E-ISSN: 1945-7243
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00469580241306274
PMID39688004
OpenAlexW4405473433
LanguageEN
References cited32

This study explored measures of subjective and objective sleep health and the association with fall occurrence and falls risk for older adults. A longitudinal observational study was conducted with participants in residential aged care (n = 36) and community dwelling (n = 35) settings. At baseline, objective sleep data involved wearing wrist worn accelerometers and measuring falls risk by walking using the Quantitative timed up and go (QTUG) of a simple, cognitive, and motor task. Subjective sleep data was collected by completing sleep diaries using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale and sleep quality scale, respectively. Longitudinal falls data were collected at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months. Falls risk was calculated via QTUG. Responses to a fall questionnaire were used to quantify fall occurrence. Independent samples t -test examined differences in objective and subjective sleep variables between settings. Logistic regression explored whether objective or subjective sleep variables could predict an overall fall occurrence. Linear regression determined if a particular sleep variable could predict an overall falls risk. Multiple regression determined if sleep variables could predict falls risk. No significant differences were found between residential and community-dwelling adults in subjective or objective sleep measures. Logistic regression showed no significant associations between most sleep variables and falls risk, except for average awakening length, where each additional minute was associated with a 1.8% increase in fall likelihood (OR = 1.02, 95% CI [1.00-1.03], P = .037). Conversely, higher awakening frequency was associated with reduced falls risk in the simple timed up-and-go task ( R 2 = .21, β = -.69, P = .009, 95% CI [-1.20 to -0.18]). Findings suggest no significant differences in sleep health or falls risk between residential and community-dwelling older adults, though specific sleep disruptions showed minor associations with falls risk

Environmental health · Injury prevention · Logistic regression · Longitudinal study · Occupational safety and health · Physical therapy · Poison control · Regression analysis · Sleep (system call · Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention · Medicine · Psychology · Sleep and related disorders · Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue · Gerontology

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