CBT for late-life insomnia and the accuracy of sleep and wake perceptions: Results from a randomized-controlled trial.

Subjective and objective estimates of sleep are often discordant among individuals with insomnia who typically under-report sleep time and over-report wake time at night. This study examined the impact and durability of cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia on improving the accuracy of sleep and wake perceptions in older adults, and tested whether changes in sleep quality were related to changes in the accuracy of sleep/wake perceptions. One-hundred and fifty-nine older veterans (97% male, mean age 72.2 years) who met diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder were randomized to: (1) cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia (n = 106); or (2) attention control (n = 53). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment, 6-months and 12-months follow-up. Sleep measures included objective (via wrist actigraphy) and subjective (via self-report diary) total sleep time and total wake time, along with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score. Discrepancy was computed as the difference between objective and subjective estimates of wake and sleep. Minutes of discrepancy were compared between groups across time, as were the relationships between Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores and subsequent changes in discrepancy. Compared with controls, participants randomized to cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia became more accurate (i.e. minutes discrepancy was reduced) in their perceptions of sleep/wake at post-treatment, 6-months and 12-months follow-up (p < .05). Improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores at each study assessment preceded and predicted reduced discrepancy at the next study assessment (p < .05). Cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia reduces sleep/wake discrepancy among older adults with insomnia. The reductions may be driven by improvements in sleep quality. Improving sleep quality appears to be a viable path to improving sleep perception and may contribute to the underlying effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia.

Caregiving-Related Sleep Problems and Their Relationship to Mental Health and Daytime Function in Female Veterans.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: To identify caregiving-related sleep problems and their relationship to mental health and daytime function in female Veterans. PARTICIPANTS: Female Veterans (N = 1,477) from cross-sectional, nationwide, postal survey data. METHODS: The survey respondent characteristics included demographics, comorbidity, physical activity, health, use of sleep medications, and history of sleep apnea. They self-identified caregiving- related sleep problems (i.e., those who had trouble sleeping because of caring for a sick adult, an infant/child, or other respondents). Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) was used to assess mental health, and daytime function was measured using 11 items of International Classification of Sleep Disorders-2 (ICSD-2). RESULTS: Female Veterans with self-identified sleep problems due to caring for a sick adult (n = 59) experienced significantly more symptoms of depression and anxiety (p < 0.001) and impairment in daytime function (e.g., fatigue, daytime sleepiness, loss of concentration, p < 0.001) than those with self-identified sleep problems due to caring for an infant or child (n = 95) or all other respondents (n = 1,323) after controlling for the respondent characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers should pay attention to assessing sleep characteristics of female Veterans with caregiving responsibilities, particularly those caregiving for a sick adult.

Measuring Sleep in Vulnerable Older Adults: A Comparison of Subjective and Objective Sleep Measures.

OBJECTIVES: This study compared subjective (questionnaire) and objective (actigraphy) sleep assessments, and examined agreement between these methods, in vulnerable older adults participating in a Veterans Administration Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) program. METHODS: 59 ADHC participants (95% male, mean age = 78 years) completed sleep questionnaires and 72 continuous hours of wrist actigraphy. Linear regression was used to examine agreement between methods and explore discrepancies in subjective/objective measures. RESULTS: Disturbed sleep was common, yet there was no agreement between subjective and objective sleep assessment methods. Compared with objective measures, one-half of participants reported worse sleep efficiency (SE) on questionnaires while one-quarter over-estimated SE. Participants reporting worse pain had a greater discrepancy between subjective and objective SE. CONCLUSIONS: Vulnerable older adults demonstrated unique patterns of reporting sleep quality when comparing subjective and objective methods. Additional research is needed to better understand how vulnerable older adults evaluate sleep problems. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Objective and subjective sleep measures may represent unique and equally important constructs in this population. Clinicians should consider utilizing both objective and subjective sleep measures to identify individuals who may benefit from behavioral sleep treatments, and future research is needed to develop and validate appropriate sleep assessments for vulnerable older adults.

Cognitive Expectancies for Hypnotic Use among Older Adult Veterans with Chronic Insomnia.

OBJECTIVES: To examine relationships between cognitive expectancies about sleep and hypnotics and use of medications commonly used for insomnia (hypnotics). METHODS: We analyzed baseline data from older veterans who met diagnostic criteria for insomnia and were enrolled in a trial comparing CBTI delivered by a supervised, sleep educator to an attention control condition (N = 159; 97% male, mean age 72 years). We classified individuals as hypnotic users (N = 23) vs. non-users (N = 135) based upon medication diaries. Associations between hypnotic status and Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep-16 (DBAS) total score (0-10, higher = worse) and two DBAS medication item scores (Item 1: "…better off taking a sleeping pill rather than having a poor night's sleep;" Item 2: "Medication… probably the only solution to sleeplessness"; 0-10, higher = worse) were examined in logistic regression models. RESULTS: Higher scores on the DBAS medication items (both odds ratios = 1.3; p-values < .001) were significantly associated with hypnotic use. DBAS-16 total score was not associated with hypnotic use. CONCLUSION: Cognitive expectancy (dysfunctional beliefs) about hypnotics was associated with hypnotic use in older adults with chronic insomnia disorder. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Strategies that specifically target dysfunctional beliefs about hypnotics are needed and may impact hypnotic use in older adults.

Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Older Adults With Occult Sleep-Disordered Breathing.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to determine whether mild, occult sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) moderates the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) in older adults and to explore whether CBTI reduces the number of patients eligible for positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. METHODS: Data were analyzed for 134 adults 60 years or older with insomnia and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of less than 15 who were randomized to a larger study of CBTI versus a sleep education control. Sleep outcomes (sleep onset latency, total wake time, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were compared between CBTI and control at 6 months using repeated-measures analysis of variance adjusted for baseline values. AHI of 5 or greater versus less than 5 was included as an interaction term to evaluate changes in sleep outcomes. The number of participants at baseline and 6 months with mild SDB for whom insomnia was their only other indication for PAP was also compared between CBTI and control. RESULTS: AHI status (AHI ≥ 5 [75.5% of participants] versus AHI < 5) did not moderate improvements in sleep associated with CBTI (all p values ≥ .12). Nine (45.0%) of 20 participants with mild SDB for whom insomnia was their only other indication for PAP therapy at baseline no longer had another indication for PAP at 6 months, with no significant difference between CBTI and control. CONCLUSIONS: CBTI improves sleep in older veterans with insomnia and untreated mild SDB. Larger trials are needed to assess whether CBTI reduces the number of patients with mild SDB eligible for PAP.

Patterns of sleep quality during and after postacute rehabilitation in older adults: a latent class analysis approach.

Sleep quality is related to emotional, physical, psychological and cognitive functioning and functional independence in later life. After acute health events, older adults are likely to utilize postacute rehabilitation services to improve functioning and facilitate return to independent living. Patterns of how sleep changes with postacute rehabilitation, and predictors of such patterns, are unknown. The current investigation employed latent class analysis (LCA) methods to classify older adults (n = 233) into groups based on patterns of self-reported sleep quality pre-illness, during postacute rehabilitation and up to 1 year following postacute rehabilitation. Using LCA, older adults were grouped into (1) consistently good sleepers (46%), (2) good sleepers who transitioned into poor sleepers (34%), (3) consistently poor sleepers (14%) and (4) poor sleepers who transitioned into good sleepers (6%). In three planned analyses, pain was an independent predictor of membership in classes 1 or 2 (good pre-illness sleep quality) versus classes 3 or 4 (poor pre-illness sleep quality), and of membership in class 1 (consistently good sleep) versus class 2 (good sleep that transitioned to poor sleep). A lower Mini-Mental State Examination score was a predictor of membership in class 1 versus class 2. There were no statistically significant predictors of membership in class 3 versus class 4. Demographics, comorbidities and depressive symptoms were not significant predictors of class membership. These findings have implications for identification of older adults at risk for developing poor sleep associated with changes in health and postacute rehabilitation. The findings also suggest that pain symptoms should be targeted to improve sleep during postacute rehabilitation.

The association between difficulty using positive airway pressure equipment and adherence to therapy: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: Little is known about the ease of use of positive airway pressure (PAP) equipment and whether PAP equipment usability is associated with adherence. This pilot project aims to determine whether perceived difficulty with the mechanics of using PAP equipment is associated with nonadherence. METHODS: Within a larger study of insomnia treatments, we screened (via telephone interview) 148 adults for sleep apnea/prior PAP use and asked them to describe the degree of difficulty putting on their PAP mask, adjusting their mask straps, turning dials/pushing PAP machine buttons, disconnecting tubing, and removing the machine's water chamber (five items; five-point Likert-like scale) and to report their PAP use (0 versus ≥1 days in the past week). RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 66.7 years (SD 7.0). Thirty respondents (20.3 %) reported at least "some difficulty" with at least one aspect of PAP equipment usability, and 15 respondents (10.1 %) reported at least "quite a lot of difficulty" with one or more aspects of PAP equipment usability. Of the participants, 43.9 % reported not using PAP equipment at all during the past week. Participants (73.3 %) with substantial PAP equipment difficulty (at least quite a lot of difficulty) versus 40.6 % without substantial difficulty reported zero nights of PAP use in the past week (chi-square 5.86, p = .015). CONCLUSIONS: Difficulty using PAP equipment is associated with PAP nonadherence. Studies are needed to confirm these findings and to identify determinants of poor usability. If findings are confirmed, strategies could be developed to improve PAP usability, which may improve adherence.

Insomnia and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder among women veterans.

Women will account for 10% of the Veteran population by 2020, yet there has been little focus on sleep issues among women Veterans. In a descriptive study of 107 women Veterans with insomnia (mean age = 49 years, 44% non-Hispanic white), 55% had probable post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (total score ≥33). Probable PTSD was related to more severe self-reported sleep disruption and greater psychological distress. In a regression model, higher PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C) total score was a significant independent predictor of worse insomnia severity index score while other factors were not. Women Veterans preferred behavioral treatments over pharmacotherapy in general, and efforts to increase the availability of such treatments should be undertaken. Further research is needed to better understand the complex relationship between insomnia and PTSD among women Veterans.

A longitudinal study of poor sleep after inpatient post-acute rehabilitation: the role of depression and pre-illness sleep quality.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the unique impact of poor sleep and symptoms of depression on sleep quality for up to 1 year after inpatient post-acute rehabilitation among older adults. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Two inpatient post-acute rehabilitation facilities. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 245 individuals older than 65 years (mean age = 80 years, 38% women). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS: Sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) during the post-acute care stay twice to evaluate pre-illness sleep quality and sleep quality during the post-acute care stay, and again at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-up. Demographics, symptoms of depression, cognitive functioning, and comorbidities were also assessed. RESULTS: Across time points, sleep was significantly disturbed for many individuals. Nested regression models predicting PSQI total score at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months showed that variables entered in Block 1 (age, gender, cognitive functioning, and comorbidities) were significant predictors of poor sleep at 6-month follow-up but not at 3-, 9-, or 12-month follow-up. Depression (Block 2) and pre-illness PSQI total score (Block 3) were significant predictors of PSQI total score at all follow-up time points. PSQI total score during post-acute care (Block 4) explained a significant proportion of variance only at the 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that chronic poor sleep is common among older adults during post-acute rehabilitation and resolution of sleep disturbance after acute health events may be a lengthy process. Our findings expand understanding of the role of depressive symptoms and preexisting sleep complaints in predicting poor sleep over time among these vulnerable older adults.

Sleep disturbance among older adults in assisted living facilities.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether objectively and subjectively measured sleep disturbances persist among older adults in assisted living facilities (ALFs) and to identify predictors of sleep disturbance in this setting. DESIGN: Prospective, observational cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 121 residents, age ≥ 65 years, in 18 ALFs in the Los Angeles area. MEASUREMENTS: Objective (actigraphy) and subjective (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) sleep measures were collected at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-up. Predictors of baseline sleep disturbance tested in bivariate analyses and multiple regression models included demographics, Mini-Mental State Examination score, number of comorbidities, nighttime sedating medication use, functional status (activities of daily living; instrumental activities of daily living), restless legs syndrome, and sleep apnea risk. RESULTS: Objective and subjective sleep measures were similar at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-up (objective nighttime total sleep [hours] 6.3, 6.5, and 6.4; objective nighttime percent sleep 77.2, 77.7, and 78.3; and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score 8.0, 7.8, and 7.7, respectively). The mean baseline nighttime percent sleep decreased by 2% for each additional unit increase in baseline comorbid conditions (measured as the number of conditions), and increased by 4.5% for each additional unit increase in baseline activities of daily living (measured as the number of activities of daily living), in a multiple regression model. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that objectively and subjectively measured sleep disturbances are persistent among ALF residents and are related to a greater number of comorbidities and poorer functional status at baseline. Interventions are needed to improve sleep in this setting.

Do correlates of dual use by American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans operate uniformly across the Veterans Health Administration and the Indian Health Service?

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the combined effects of patient-level (demographic and clinical characteristics) and organizational-level (structure and strategies to improve access) factors are uniformly associated with utilization of Indian Health Service (IHS) and/or Veterans Health Administration (VHA) by American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Veterans to inform policy which promotes dual use. METHODS: We estimated correlates and compared two separate multilevel logistic regression models of VHA-IHS dual versus IHS-only and VHA-IHS dual versus VHA-only in a sample of 18,892 AIAN Veterans receiving care at 201 VHA and IHS facilities during FY02 and FY03. Demographic, diagnostic, eligibility, and utilization data were drawn from administrative records. A survey of VHA and IHS facilities defined availability of services and strategies to enhance access to healthcare for AIAN Veterans. RESULTS: Facility level strategies that are generally associated with enhancing access to healthcare (e.g., population-based services and programs, transportation or co-location) were not significant factors associated with dual use. In both models the common variable of dual use was related to medical need, defined as the number of diagnoses per patient. Other significant demographic, medical need and organizational factors operated in opposing manners. For instance, age increased the likelihood of dual use versus IHS-only but decreased the likelihood of dual use versus VHA-only. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to enhance access through population-based and consumer-driven strategies may add value but be less important to utilization than availability of healthcare resources needed by this population. Sharing health records and co-management strategies would improve quality of care while policies allow and promote dual use.

Randomized controlled trial of an integrated approach to treating insomnia and improving the use of positive airway pressure therapy in veterans with comorbid insomnia disorder and obstructive sleep apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) for comorbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has had mixed results. We integrated CBTI with a positive airway pressure (PAP) adherence program and tested effects on sleep and PAP use. METHODS: 125 veterans (mean age 63.2, 96% men, 39% non-Hispanic white, 26% black/African American, 18% Hispanic/Latino) with comorbid insomnia and newly-diagnosed OSA (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 15) were randomized to 5-weekly sessions integrating CBTI with a PAP adherence program provided by a "sleep coach" (with behavioral sleep medicine supervision), or 5-weekly sleep education control sessions. Participants and assessment staff were blinded to group assignment. Outcomes (baseline, 3 and 6 months) included Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), 7-day sleep diary (sleep onset latency [SOL-D], wake after sleep onset [WASO-D], sleep efficiency [SE-D]), 7-day actigraphy (SE-A), and objective PAP use (hours/night and nights ≥ 4 h). Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire-10 (FOSQ-10) were also collected. RESULTS: Compared to controls, intervention participants showed greater improvement (baseline to 3 and 6 months, respectively) in PSQI (-3.2 and -1.7), SOL-D (-16.2 and -15.5 minutes), SE-D (10.5% and 8.5%), SE-A (4.4% and 2.6%) and more 90-day PAP use (1.3 and 0.9 more hours/night, 17.4 and 11.3 more nights PAP ≥ 4 h). 90-day PAP use at 3 months was 3.2 and 1.9 h/night in intervention versus controls. Intervention participants also had greater improvements in ISI, ESS, and FOSQ-10 (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An intervention integrating CBTI with a PAP adherence program delivered by a supervised sleep coach improved sleep and PAP use in adults with comorbid insomnia and OSA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.govStudy name: Novel Treatment of Comorbid Insomnia and Sleep Apnea in Older VeteransURL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=&term=NCT02027558&cntry=&state=&city=&dist=Registration: NCT02027558.

Veterans Health Administration and Indian Health Service: healthcare utilization by Indian Health Service enrollees.

BACKGROUND: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Indian Health Service (IHS) have executed an agreement to share resources to improve access and health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) veterans. OBJECTIVES: To describe the extent of dual use, health needs, and utilization patterns for IHS-enrollees served by VHA and IHS. Our objective is to fill those gaps in knowledge to inform strategic planning between these federal agencies. METHODS: Secondary data analysis of linked and merged VHA and IHS centralized administrative data from FY02 and FY03. RESULTS: Of 64,746 IHS enrollees who used VHA and/or IHS, 25% accessed care at both healthcare organizations, whereas most used either the VHA (28%) or the IHS (46%). The proportion of dual users varied markedly by state. Like all other VHA users, these AIAN veterans have the same 3 most frequent diagnoses associated with healthcare encounters: posttraumatic stress disorder, hypertension, and diabetes. VHA-IHS dual users were more likely to receive primary care from IHS and to receive diagnostic and behavioral healthcare from VHA. Many dual users who had been diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, and/or cardiovascular disease received overlapping attention in VHA and IHS. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to improve outcomes for AIAN veterans should target those receiving care in both systems and include information sharing or coordination of clinical care to reduce the potential for duplication and for treatment conflicts. Strategies to improve access may differ regionally.

Dual use of veterans health administration and Indian Health Service: healthcare provider and patient perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Many American Indian and Alaska Native veterans are eligible for healthcare from Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and from Indian Health Service (IHS). These organizations executed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2003 to share resources, but little was known about how they collaborated to deliver healthcare. OBJECTIVE: To describe dual use from the stakeholders' perspectives, including incentives that encourage cross-use, which organization's primary care is "primary," and the potential problems and opportunities for care coordination across VHA and IHS. PARTICIPANTS: VHA healthcare staff, IHS healthcare staff and American Indian and Alaska Native veterans. APPROACH: Focus groups were conducted using a semi-structured guide. A software-assisted text analysis was performed using grounded theory to develop analytic categories. MAIN RESULTS: Dual use was driven by variation in institutional resources, leading patients to actively manage health-seeking behaviors and IHS providers to make ad hoc recommendations for veterans to seek care at VHA. IHS was the "primary" primary care for dual users. There was little coordination between VHA and IHS resulting in delays and treatment conflicts, but all stakeholder groups welcomed future collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: Fostering closer alignment between VHA and IHS would reduce care fragmentation and improve accountability for patient care.

Health care for American Indian and Alaska native women.

BACKGROUND: Many American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) women serve in the military and are eligible for healthcare from both the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS). Little was known about these women's patterns of health care utilization when VHA and IHS executed a resource-sharing agreement in 2003 to improve access and health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe women's healthcare utilization in VHA and IHS. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive secondary data analysis of linked IHS and VHA administrative records from fiscal years 2002 and 2003 for women among all IHS beneficiaries who were veterans or used VHA for health care (n = 64,746). RESULTS: Among these IHS beneficiaries, 4,338 (6.7%) were female veterans and 1,518 (2.8%) were female nonveterans. Comparing IHS services to VHA, the VHA provided the majority of outpatient specialty care to veterans, providing 89.9% of diagnostic and imaging services, 84.4% of mental health care, and 78.1% of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Conversely, the IHS provided the majority of ambulatory and inpatient care for obstetrics and gynecology to these veterans. Dual users received primary care from both organizations. Nonveterans generally accessed VHA under sharing agreements and their use of health care was generally limited to outpatient diagnostic and imaging. CONCLUSIONS: The VHA seems to supplement healthcare provided by the IHS for female AIAN veterans, as well as for a small proportion of nonveterans. The VHA and the IHS have developed specialized and complementary expertise, which might be aligned to serve the needs of female AIAN veterans.

Insomnia Disorder Among Older Veterans: Results of a Postal Survey.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of insomnia disorder among older veterans and to study relationships among age and self-rated health, with insomnia disorder, self-reported sleep duration and sleep efficiency. METHODS: A cross-sectional postal survey of community-dwelling older veterans (older than 60 years) seen at one VA Healthcare System in the prior 18 months was performed, which was constructed to align with the general diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder (International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Second Edition [ICSD-2]). The survey also queried self-reported sleep duration, bedtime, and wake time, which were used to calculate sleep efficiency. The survey also asked about race/ethnicity and self-rated health (using the general health item from the Short Form-36). RESULTS: A completed survey was returned by 4,717 individuals (51.9% response rate; mean age 74.1 years). Of those, 2,249 (47.7%) met ICSD-2 diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder. In logistic regression analyses, insomnia disorder was more likely among younger age categories (odds ratios [OR] 1.4-2.5) and in those with worse self-rated health (OR 2.1-14.4). Both total nocturnal sleep time and time in bed increased with older age (all P < .001), whereas sleep efficiency did not differ. Worse self-rated health was associated with shorter total nocturnal sleep time, more time in bed, and lower (worse) sleep efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the postal survey suggest that almost half of community-dwelling older veterans have insomnia disorder, which was more common in young-old and among those with worse self-rated health. Additional work is needed to address the high burden of insomnia among older adults, including those with poor health.

Sleep Outcomes With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Are Similar Between Older Adults With Low vs. High Self-Reported Physical Activity.

We examined whether baseline self-reported physical activity is associated with the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in older veterans. Community-dwelling veterans aged 60 years and older with insomnia received CBT-I in a randomized controlled trial. Participants who received active treatment were divided into low and high physical activity based on self-report. Sleep outcomes were measured by sleep diary, questionnaire and wrist actigraphy; collected at baseline, post-treatment, 6-month and 12-month follow-up. Mixed-effects models compared differences between physical activity groups in change in sleep outcome from baseline to each follow-up, and equivalence tests examined if physical activity groups were clinically equal. There were no significant differences in sleep outcomes between physical activity groups. Equivalence tests suggested possible equality in physical activity groups for five of seven sleep outcomes. Efficacy of CBT-I in older veterans was not associated with self-reported physical activity at baseline. Older adults with insomnia who report low levels of physical activity can benefit from CBT-I.

A Four-Session Sleep Intervention Program Improves Sleep for Older Adult Day Health Care Participants: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Study Objective: To test the effectiveness of a 4-week behavioral Sleep Intervention Program (SIP: sleep compression, modified stimulus control, and sleep hygiene) compared to a 4-week information-only control (IC) among older adults attending a VA Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) program in a double-blind, randomized, clinical trial. Methods: Forty-two individuals (mean age: 77 years, 93% male) enrolled in a VA ADHC program were randomized to receive SIP or IC. All completed in-person sleep and health assessments at baseline, post-treatment and 4-months follow-up that included 3 days/nights of wrist actigraphy, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Mixed repeated measures analysis was used to compare sleep outcomes at post-treatment and 4-months follow-up, with baseline values as covariates. Results: SIP participants (n = 21) showed significant improvement on actigraphy sleep efficiency (p = .007), number of nighttime awakenings (p = .016), and minutes awake at night (p = .001) at post-treatment, compared to IC participants (n = 21). Benefits were slightly attenuated but remained significant at 4-month follow-up (all p's < .05). There were no differences in total sleep time between groups. There was significant improvement on PSQI factor 3 (daily disturbances) at 4-month follow-up (p = .016), but no differences were observed between SIP and IC on other PSQI components or ISI scores at post-treatment or 4-month follow-up. Conclusions: A short behavioral sleep intervention may have important benefits in improving objectively measured sleep in older adults participating in ADHC. Future studies are needed to study implementation of this intervention into routine clinical care within ADHC.

Estimated Prevalence of Insomnia among Women Veterans: Results of a Postal Survey.

OBJECTIVES: Insomnia is a significant public health concern known to particularly impact women and the veteran population; however, rates of insomnia disorder among women veterans are not known. METHOD: Women veterans who had received health care at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System between 2008 and 2010 and resided within 25 miles of the facility were sent a postal survey assessing sleep, demographics, and other related patient characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 660 women (43.1% of potential responders) returned the postal survey and provided sufficient information for insomnia diagnosis. On average, women reported 6.2 hours of sleep per night. The prevalence of insomnia, determined according to diagnostic criteria from the International Classification of Sleep Disorders-2, was 52.3%. Women with insomnia reported more severely disturbed sleep, and more pain, menopausal symptoms, stress/worries, and nightmares compared with women without insomnia. There was a quadratic relationship between age and insomnia with women in their mid-40s, most likely to have insomnia. CONCLUSIONS: This survey study found that insomnia symptoms were endorsed by more than one-half of the women veterans in this sample of VA users, highlighting the critical need for enhanced clinical identification and intervention. Further research is needed to establish national rates of insomnia among women veterans and to improve access to evidence-based treatment of insomnia disorder.

Patient-Reported Usability of Positive Airway Pressure Equipment Is Associated With Adherence in Older Adults.

Study objectives: To examine the usability of positive airway pressure (PAP) devices and its association with PAP adherence among older adults with sleep-disordered breathing. Methods: We mailed questionnaires to patients aged ≥65 years prescribed PAP therapy during the prior 36 months from two large healthcare systems. Survey participants completed the Usability of Sleep Apnea Equipment-Positive Airway Pressure (USE-PAP) questionnaire, which assessed the usability of their PAP device. Other questionnaire items included demographics and self-rated health. We also abstracted adherence data (mean nightly hours of PAP use available from one site) and interface type from the electronic health record. Results: Five hundred sixty-four patients completed the survey (response rate = 33%). The mean USE-PAP score (0 = best to 100 = worst) was 20 (SD ± 20). Mean duration of PAP use (available in 189 respondents) was 5.2 hours per night (SD ± 2.0). In a nested regression model predicting nightly hours of PAP use, a 10-point (0.5 SD) increase in USE-PAP score corresponded to a 0.37 hour/night reduction in PAP use. The model including the USE-PAP score explained a significant proportion (R2 = 15%) of the variation in nightly hours of PAP use above and beyond demographics, self-reported health, and interface type (∆R2 = 12%). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that PAP usability varies among older patients and is associated with PAP adherence, above and beyond other predictors of adherence. These results support measuring and improving PAP usability to further improve PAP adherence for older patients.