Enduring sleep complaints predict health problems: a six-year follow-up of the survey of health and retirement in Europe^*

Objectives: Sleep complaints are common and enduring among old people. The study aimed to extend current knowledge by exploring the effects of episodic versus chronic sleep complaints on a range of physical and mental health outcomes. Methods: Older adults (N = 8934, mean age = 64) who participated in Waves 1, 2 and 4 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) reported sleep and health outcome measures. Episodic sleep complaints, in the first or in the second wave and chronic sleep complaints, in both waves were recorded. Outcomes in Wave 4 included physical symptoms, difficulties in activities of daily living and low quality of life. Results: Logistic regressions examined whether episodic and chronic sleep complaints at W1 and W2 predict W4 health outcomes. Chronic sleep complaints predicted worse outcomes, compared to no sleep difficulties and to episodic sleep complaints, even after adjusting for demographic characteristics and previous levels of health. Conclusion: Sleep complaints and mainly chronic sleep complaints are related to elevated risk of future health and functional problems. Caregivers are encouraged to address sleep complaints and provide their older patients with help before sleep complaints become persistent.