Associations between sleep parameters and falls among older adults with and without cardiovascular disease: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS)

Abstract

Aim: Falls are a major global public health concern, requiring early screening and prevention. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with physical impairments and increased fall risk. Despite the link between CVD and sleep parameters, research on falls and sleep in CVD patients is limited. We aimed to compare the correlation between falls and sleep in populations with and without CVD to develop fall prevention strategies.

Methods: This longitudinal cohort study utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Baseline data were collected in 2011, with follow-up in 2015. Falls and CVD were assessed based on self-reporting. Sleep parameters, including nighttime and total sleep duration, daytime napping, and sleep disturbance were collected via self-reported questionnaires. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and R statistical.

Results: A cohort of 4349 individuals with an average age of 68.00 ± 5.97 years was analyzed. From these individuals, 21.5% reported falls during follow-up. Baseline CVD was significantly associated with follow-up falls (P < 0.001). After adjusting for multiple factors, nighttime sleep durations of <6 h (P = 0.004), 8 to 9 h (P = 0.016) and >9 h (P = 0.031) were significantly associated with follow-up falls among the CVD group. Total sleep duration <7 h was significantly associated with follow-up falls in both the total and non-CVD groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Maintaining a moderate sleep duration is crucial for preventing falls among older adults. Both excessively short and long sleep durations are associated with fall risks, particularly for individuals with CVD. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; 25: 38-47.

Keywords: cardiovascular disease (CVD); fall risk; sleep disorder; sleep duration.

Figure 1

Association between sleep duration at baseline and future falls using restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. (a) Nighttime sleep duration (left: total population; middle: participants without CVD; right: participants with CVD). (b) Total sleep duration (left: total population; middle: participants without CVD; right: participants with CVD).