ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Circadian rest-activity rhythms (CARs) have been cross-sectionally associated with depressive symptoms, although no longitudinal research has examined whether CARs are a risk factor for developing depressive symptoms. METHODS: We examined associations of CARs (measured with actigraphy over a mean of 4.8 days) with depressive symptoms (measured with the Geriatric Depression Scale) among 2,892 community-dwelling older men (mean age: 76.2 ± 5.5 years) from the MrOS Sleep Study who were without cognitive impairment. Among 2,124 men with minimal (0-2) symptoms at baseline, we assessed associations between CAR parameters and increases to mild (3-5) or clinically significant (≥6) symptoms after an average of 1.2 (±0.32) years. RESULTS: Cross-sectional associations between rhythm height parameters were independent of chronic diseases, lifestyle, sleep, and self-reported physical activity covariates. For example, men in the lowest mesor quartile had twice the adjusted odds (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36-3.04, p = 0.0005) of having prevalent clinically significant symptoms (compared to minimal). Longitudinally, low CAR robustness (being in the lowest quartile of the pseudo-F statistic) was independently associated with increasing odds of developing symptoms (i.e., AOR for having clinically significant depressive symptoms at follow-up = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.11-5.99, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: CAR disturbances are indicative of depressive symptomology. Low CAR robustness may independently contribute to the risk of worsening depression symptomology.
Subject(s)
Aging , Chronobiology Disorders , Depression , Actigraphy/methods , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Aging/physiology , Aging/psychology , Chronobiology Disorders/complications , Chronobiology Disorders/diagnosis , Chronobiology Disorders/epidemiology , Chronobiology Disorders/psychology , Comorbidity , Depression/diagnosis , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/etiology , Depression/physiopathology , Follow-Up Studies , Geriatric Assessment/methods , Humans , Independent Living/psychology , Life Style , Male , Motor Activity , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Risk Factors , Sleep , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and predictors of RLS in Hispanics of Mexican descent (HMD) and non-Hispanic whites (NHW). DESIGN: A population-based random digit dialing telephone questionnaire. SETTING: San Diego County California PARTICIPANTS: 1,754 HMD and 1,913 NHW adults ≥ 18 years of age able to participate in a telephone interview in English or Spanish. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: RLS was defined by the presence of all 4 criteria of the International Restless Legs Study Group. Sleepiness was measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Acculturation was evaluated using the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics. Risk factors for RLS were by self-report. The survey was conducted in the subject's language of choice. RLS prevalence was significantly lower in HMD than in NHW (14.4% vs.18.3%, p = 0.002). High acculturation HMD had a significantly greater RLS prevalence than the low acculturation group (17.4% vs. 12.8%, p = 0.008). Predictors of RLS varied between HMD and NHW. Female gender (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.04, 1.90, p = 0.027), smoking (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.27, 2.61, p = 0.001), and acculturation (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.10, 1.97, p = 0.009) were independent predictors of RLS in HMD, while only older age (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.0, 1.02) was an independent predictor of RLS for NHW. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of RLS was significantly lower in HMD than in NHW, and significantly greater in high acculturation HMD. Our data suggest that risk factors for RLS vary by race/ethnicity and acculturation is an independent risk for RLS in HMD.
Subject(s)
Mexican Americans/statistics & numerical data , Restless Legs Syndrome/ethnology , White People/statistics & numerical data , Acculturation , Adult , Age Factors , California/epidemiology , Chi-Square Distribution , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Restless Legs Syndrome/epidemiology , Restless Legs Syndrome/etiology , Risk Factors , Sex Factors , Smoking/adverse effects , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Insomnia is a very common symptom, particularly in the elderly. Thus, all hypnotic medications should be carefully evaluated in the elderly population. Zaleplon, a new nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic with a short elimination half-life (approximately 1 hour), was evaluated in the current study. METHOD: This multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled outpatient study evaluated the efficacy and safety of zaleplon, 5 and 10 mg, in elderly patients with insomnia (as defined by DSM-IV); zolpidem, 5 mg, was the active comparator. Sleep was assessed in 549 elderly patients (>/= 65 years old) by using morning questionnaires completed after each of 7 baseline nights during which placebo was given, 14 nights of double-blind treatment, and 7 nights of placebo after discontinuation of active treatment. RESULTS: Zaleplon, 10 mg, and zolpidem, 5 mg, significantly reduced sleep latency during both weeks of the study. Zaleplon, 5 mg, reduced sleep latency only during week 2. Sleep duration was increased with zolpidem, 5 mg, during weeks 1 and 2 and with zaleplon, 10 mg, during week 1. No clinically significant rebound insomnia was observed after discontinuation of treatment with zaleplon, whereas evidence of rebound effects was seen with zolpidem. There was no significant difference between either zaleplon dose and placebo in the frequency of any central nervous system adverse events. CONCLUSION: Zaleplon is effective in reducing latency to sleep without evidence of undesired effects in elderly patients with insomnia.