Associations of health-related fitness with sleep quality and insomnia in elderly women

This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between health-related fitness and sleep quality and insomnia in 248 elderly women (≥65 years). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were used to assess poor sleep quality and insomnia. Health-related fitness was assessed using a senior fitness test protocol. Subjects were classified in the high (high 33%), middle (middle 33%), and low fit (low 33%) groups based on the health-related fitness total Z-scores. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of poor sleep quality and insomnia according to health-related fitness levels. Compared to the high fit group (reference, OR=1), the low fit group had significantly higher OR for having poor sleep quality. Compared to the high fit group (reference, OR=1), the middle fit and low fit group had significantly higher OR for having insomnia. The findings suggest that higher health-related fitness via regular exercise and physical activity can help reduce the risk of poor sleep quality and insomnia in elderly women.