Sleep problem and its association with physical activity and functional limitation: Brazilian national health survey

Objectives

To evaluate the association of sleep problems with physical activity and functional limitations in Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) in non-institutionalized Brazilian older adults and to investigate if there is a moderating effect of functional limitations in the association between physical activity and sleep problems.

Method

This was a cross-sectional study of 22,728 older adults aged 60 or older interviewed in the National Health Survey in 2019. The outcome variable was self-reported sleep problems. The independent variables of interest were the practice of physical activity and functional limitations in BADL. The association between the independent variables and the outcome was assessed using logistic regression models adjusted for covariates.

Results

The prevalence of sleep problems was 24.8% (95% CI 23.8–25.8). Physically active individuals were less likely to have sleep problems (OR 0.85; 95% CI 0.72–0.99), while those with functional limitations in BADL (OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.77–2.49) were more likely to have sleep problems, after adjustment for covariates. There was a significant interaction between physical activities and functional limitations in BADL.

Conclusions

The prevalence of sleep problems in the Brazilian older adults was associated with physical activity and functional limitations in BADL. Physical activity is associated with lower odds of sleep problems among older adults with functional limitations in BADL.