Abstract
Purpose: :
This study ascertained associations between self-reported vision problems and insomnia symptoms in a community-based sample of older Russians.
Methods: :
A total of 307 community-residing older Russians (ages: 50-95 years, mean = 72.64 ± 9.62; women = 54% and men = 46%) participated in the study. Surveys were conducted in a semi-structured environment as part of a study assessing health-care needs and physical health characteristics in that population. Bilingual community outreach educators administered surveys in various community centers, enlisting representative Russian aggregates. Measures for the present analysis included demographic and health-related data. Respondents received $20 for their participation. Data were coded and entered in SPSS 15.0 for analysis.
Results: :
Eighty-nine percent of the volunteers had at least a High School degree; 27% were married and 73% were single, divorced, or separated. Forty-one percent lived alone, whereas 59% lived either with a spouse, their children, a family member, or a friend. Overall, 93% reported at least one of several major health problems: vision (48%), hearing (26%), breathing (13%), hypertension (53%), snoring (28%), diabetes (26%), arthritis (53%), cancer (11%), weight problems (34%), and depression (43%). Sixty-two percent reported insomnia symptoms, defined as difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, or early morning awakenings. Logistic regression analysis showed that individuals with vision problems were nearly three times as likely than those without to report insomnia symptoms [OR = 2.73, p < 0.01; 95% CI = 1.68-4.48]. Adjusting for the presence of social isolation and depressed moods reduced the odds [OR = 2.00, p < 0.01; 95% CI = 1.15-3.49].
Conclusions: :
Older Russians in Central Brooklyn have a higher prevalence of vision problems and insomnia than observed in the general US population. Older Russians with vision problems have twice the odds of reporting insomnia independently of depression and social isolation, two common problems affecting quality of life in that population.
Keywords: quality of life