Abstract
Objective
To provide information on the profile, comorbidity and impact of insomnia among an understudied group of elderly Africans.
Method
Using the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), the 12βmonth prevalence of three forms of insomnia was assessed in faceβtoβface interviews conducted with a regionallyβrepresentative sample of elderly Nigerians, aged 65 years and over (nβ=β2152). The association of insomnia with quality of life, rated with the WHO Quality of Life instrument, was analyzed controlling for comorbid chronic pain, chronic medical conditions and DSMβIV major depressive disorder.
Results
At least one insomnia problem was reported by 30.72%. Insomnia was more frequent among females, persons aged 70 years and over, and those who were unmarried. Insomnia was comorbid with major depressive disorder (ORβ=β3.9, 95% CI 2.5β6.1), chronic pain (ORβ=β4.3, 95% CI 3.2β6.1; particularly arthritis and spinal pain), and chronic medical conditions (ORβ=β2.1, 95% CI 1.8β2.5, particularly heart disease, high blood pressure or asthma). Persons with insomnia were more likely to report having had a fall in the previous year (ORβ=β1.4, 95% CI 1.0β1.8) and, among those with fall, injury was more commonly reported by those with insomnia. Every form of insomnia was associated with decrement in quality of life. After controlling for comorbid mental and physical conditions, the Ξ² coefficients ranged between β17.9 and β20.0.
Conclusion
Insomnia was highly comorbid with chronic physical conditions and with depression. These comorbid conditions partly but do not entirely account for the considerable decrement in quality of life associated with insomnia. Copyright Β© 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.