American
Academy of Neurology
Older
people who experience daytime sleepiness may be at risk of developing new
medical conditions, including diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure,
according to a preliminary study that will be presented at the
American Academy of Neurology's 72nd Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, April
25 to May 1, 2020.
The
condition called hypersomnolence is defined as excessive daytime sleepiness
even after having seven or more hours of sleep. It can be debilitating for some
people, affecting the way that they perform at work and in other daily
activities.
"Paying
attention to sleepiness in older adults could help doctors predict and prevent
future medical conditions," said study author Maurice M. Ohayon, M.D.,
Ph.D., DSc, of Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., and a member of the
American Academy of Neurology.
"Older adults and their family members may want to take a closer look at sleeping habits to understand the potential risk for developing a more serious medical condition."
"Older adults and their family members may want to take a closer look at sleeping habits to understand the potential risk for developing a more serious medical condition."
Researchers
interviewed participants over the phone two times, three years apart. In the
first interview, 23% of people over 65 met the criteria for excessive
sleepiness. In the second interview, 24% reported excessive sleepiness. Of
those, 41% said the sleepiness was a chronic problem.
The
study found that people who reported sleepiness in the first phone interview
had a 2.3 times greater risk of developing diabetes or high blood pressure
three years later than those who did not experience sleepiness.
They were also twice as likely to develop cancer. Of the 840 people who reported sleepiness at the first interview, 52 people, or 6.2%, developed diabetes compared to 74 people, or 2.9% of those who were never sleepy during the day.
Also, of the 840 people who reported sleepiness, 20 people, or 2.4%, developed cancer compared to 21 people, or 0.8% of those who were never sleepy during the day.
They were also twice as likely to develop cancer. Of the 840 people who reported sleepiness at the first interview, 52 people, or 6.2%, developed diabetes compared to 74 people, or 2.9% of those who were never sleepy during the day.
Also, of the 840 people who reported sleepiness, 20 people, or 2.4%, developed cancer compared to 21 people, or 0.8% of those who were never sleepy during the day.
The
results remained the same after researchers adjusted for other factors that
could affect daytime sleepiness, such as gender and sleep apnea.
People
who reported daytime sleepiness during both interviews had a 2.5 times greater
risk of developing heart disease.
People
who reported sleepiness only in the second interview were 50% more likely to
also have diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, such as
arthritis, tendinitis and lupus, than those who did not have daytime
sleepiness.
A
limitation of the study was that it relied on participants' memories, rather
than monitoring their sleep length and quality and daytime sleepiness in a
sleep clinic.