Insomnia, Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Depression among Midlife Women

초록

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in cardiovascular risk factors and depression according to the level of insomnia among midlife women. Methods. This study used a non-experimental, cross-sectional study design. A convenient sample of 423 midlife women was recruited in the community setting. Study instruments included demographic characteristics (age, education, income, employment, and marital status), and biological characteristics (menopausal status, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, and lipid profile). Insomnia was measured with Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were conducted to examine differences in biological characteristics and depression according to ISI. Results. The mean age was 55.0 years (SD=6.01, range 40-65). Half of the participants (50.8%) had obtained education above high school level, 81.0% were married or cohabitated with a partner, 47.0% were employed, and 73.0% were menopaused. Total cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly different by the ISI levels after controlling for age and BMI (p<.05). Total cholesterol level was the highest in the moderate/severe insomnia group, while triglyceride was the highest in the sub-threshold insomnia group. CES-D was significantly different by the ISI (p < .05). The moderate/severe insomnia group exhibited more depressive symptoms than their counterpart. Conclusions. Insomnia is significantly associated with some of the cardiovascular risk factors and depressive symptoms. Therefore, interventions are needed to mitigate insomnia, which will in turn help to reduce cardiovascular risk and depression among midlife women.