J Korean Med Sci.  2007 Dec;22(6):1007-1014. 10.3346/jkms.2007.22.6.1007.

Self-Reported Sleep Latency in Postmenopausal Women

• Park DH
• Kripke DF
• Louis GJ
• Elliott JA
• Klauber MR
• Rex KM
• Tuunainen
• Langer RD

• KMID: 1785762
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2007.22.6.1007

Abstract

The aim of this study was to access how self-reported sleep latency (SRSL) was affected by sleep habits, mood, and circadian rhythm in postmenopausal women. Subjects (n=384, 67.9+/-7.7 yr) completed sleep and mood questionnaires, sleep log and actigraphic data. The major urinary melatonin metabolite (6-sulphatoxymelatonin, aMT6s) was assayed in fractional urine specimens for two 24-hr intervals. Although SRSL (26.5+/-24.4 min) and actigraphic sleep latency (ASL; 27.8+/-20.0 min) were correlated (rs=0.361, p<0.001), the short SRSLs tended to be underestimated whereas the long SRSLs tended to be overestimated as compared to ASL. SRSL was positively correlated with the scales of insomnia, mood and hot flash, hypertension, use of anti-hypertensive drugs and the acrophase and the offset of aMT6s. SRSL was negatively correlated with the global assessment of functioning scale in DSM-IV (GAF scale), and light exposure and wrist activity. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the best-fit model to predict SRSL was light exposure, GAF scale, and use of anti-hypertensive drugs. SRSL may be determined by psychophysiological factors as well as circadian rhythm function. Therapeutic approaches suggested for trouble falling asleep might include increased daylight exposure, improvements in general health, and modification of anti-hypertensive pharmacotherapy.

Keyword

Sleep Latency; Postmenopause; Circadian Rhythm; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Depression

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Circadian Rhythm
Female
Humans
Melatonin/analogs & derivatives/urine
Middle Aged
Postmenopause/*physiology
Sleep/physiology
Sleep Disorders/*etiology/physiopathology
Time Factors

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Self-reported sleep latency (SRSL) is correlated with the difference in SRSL and actigraphic sleep latency (ASL) (SRSL-ASL) (rs=0.603, p<0.001). Spearman correlation between SRSL and SRSL-ASL was used because SRSL did not show Gaussian distribution. The differences between SRSL and ASL tend to be negative in the short SRSLs whereas positive in the long SRSLs. As compared to ASL, the short SRSLs tend to be underestimated whereas the long SRSLs above 50 min tend to be overestimated.

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