Prevalence and associated factors of insomnia symptoms among older adults in the Philippines

Abstract

Background: This study aims to quantify the frequency of insomnia symptoms in older individuals in the Philippines as well as its associated factors and the mediating role of body pain and depressive symptoms on insomnia symptoms. Methods: There were 5209 cross-sectional nationally representative data from the 2018 Longitudinal Study on Ageing and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP) pertaining to older persons (≥60 years) analysed in total. The Jenkins Sleep Scale was used to measure insomnia symptoms (JSS-4). Results: The prevalence of overall insomnia symptoms was 33.3%, and the prevalence of late insomnia symptoms was the highest (25.0%), followed by initial insomnia symptoms (15.2%), intermediate insomnia symptoms (14.7%), and daytime sleepiness (3.6%). In the final adjusted regression model, experiencing hunger (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.73, 95% CI: 1.21–2.47), unmet healthcare need (AOR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.16–2.48), taking care of grandchildren (AOR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.09–2.15), poor self-rated health (AOR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.15–2.19), loneliness (AOR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.06–2.28), depressive symptoms (AOR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.19 to 2.25), and multimorbidity (AOR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.18–2.26), were positively associated and daily prayers (AOR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.51–0.90), and was negative associated with insomnia symptoms. In addition, respiratory illness (AOR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.12–2.43) and arthritis, neuralgia or rheumatism (AOR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.05–2.14) increased the odds of insomnia symptoms. Furthermore, there was a significant indirect effect of hunger (explaining 43.0%) and body pain (explaining 32.3%) on insomnia symptoms via depressive symptoms. Conclusion: One in three older adults reported insomnia symptoms. Older age, stress factors and health status factors increased the odds and support factors decreased the odds of insomnia symptoms. Healthcare providers should be aware of the high associations between insomnia symptoms with various stress- and health-related factors.