J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2018 Apr;22(1):7-12. 10.0000/jkgp.2018.22.1.7.

Snoring as a Risk Factor of Fall in the Community Elderly

• Park J
• Kim WJ
• Youm Y
• Kim HC
• Park YR
• Chu SH
• Namkoong K
• Lee E

• KMID: 2434993
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jkgp.2018.22.1.7

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Fall is one of major causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. It is known that sleep is associated with quality of life in the elderly. Snoring is one of the factors affecting sleep quality. The aim of the study was to examine whether snoring affect fall in the community elderly.
METHODS
This survey was performed as a part of the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, which studied the elderly living in Ganghwa-gun. Fall was defined as any history of fall in the last year through face-to-face interview. We examined the following variables: age, sex, snoring, insomnia, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, bone disease, vision problems, depression, alcohol intake, mini-mental state examination, and body mass index. The data was analyzed by multiple logistic regression to determine the association of fall with the risk factors.
RESULTS
In the multivariate analysis of 516 participants, the adjusted odd ratios (95% confidence interval) of simple snoring affecting fall was 1.70 (1.10-2.63). In addition, sex (female), age, and diabetes were significantly predicted the fall.
CONCLUSION
Our result suggested that snoring could be a risk factor of fall. A more comprehensive study of the relationship between snoring and fall is needed to improve the quality of life of the community elderly.

Keyword

Aged; Fall; Sleep initiation and maintenance disorders; Snoring

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Aging
Body Mass Index
Bone Diseases
Depression
Humans
Hypertension
Logistic Models
Mortality
Multivariate Analysis
Quality of Life
Risk Factors*
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Snoring*
Stroke