Abstract

The Association between Earlier Bedtime and Cardiac Vagal Control in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Shi-Pai Sleep Study, Taiwan

Author(s): Shang-Wen Chang, Hsi-Chung Chen, Pesus Chou

ABSTRACT

Background:

The mechanism underlying the relationship between sleep−wake timing in older adults with poor health remains unclear.

Objective:

This study aimed to examine the relationship between deviant sleep−wake timing and cardiac autonomic function among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods:

A total of 597 randomly selected older adults aged ≥ 65 years and residing in an urban city participated in this study. Cardiac autonomic function was assessed by monitoring heart rate variability.

Results:

There were 58.6% men, and the overall mean age was 77.9 ± 5.2 years. After controlling for various covariates, it was found that the likelihood of poor cardiac vagal function was higher (odds ratio: 1.89, 95% confidence interval 1.20−2.98) for older adults with an earlier bedtime (before 21:59 h).

Conclusions:

This finding suggested that an earlier bedtime in metropolitan older adults may indicate a decline in the health status.