Associations Between Longitudinal Trajectories Of Insomnia Symptoms And Sleep Duration With Objective Physical Function In Postmenopausal Women: The Study Of Women'S Health Across The Nation

Study Objectives: Examine the association between trajectories of self-reported insomnia symptoms and sleep duration over 13 years with objective physical function.Methods: We utilized data from 1,627 Study of Women's Health Across the Nation participants, aged 61.9 2.7 years at the end of the 13-year follow-up. Latent class growth models identified trajectories of insomnia symptoms (trouble falling asleep, frequent night-time awakenings, and/or early morning awakening) and sleep duration over 13 years. Physical function tests were performed at the end of the 13-year period: 40-ft walk, 4-m walk, repeated chair stand, grip strength, and balance. Multivariable regression analyses examined each physical function measure according to the insomnia symptom or sleep duration trajectory group.Results: Five insomnia symptom trajectories and two sleep duration trajectories were identified. Women with a consistently high likelihood of insomnia symptoms and women with a decreased likelihood of insomnia symptoms (i.e. improving) had slower gait speed (3.5% slower 40-ft walk [consistently high], 3.7% slower 4-m walk [improving]; each p <= .05) than those with a consistently low likelihood of insomnia symptoms. In contrast, women with a steep increase in the likelihood of insomnia symptoms over time and women with persistent insufficient sleep duration had lower odds of having a balance problem (odds ratio [OR] = 0.36 and OR = 0.61, respectively; each p < .02) compared to those with a consistently low likelihood of insomnia symptoms and those with persistent sufficient sleep duration, respectively.Conclusion: These results suggest that women's sleep during midlife has important implications for maintaining physical function during the transition into older adulthood.