Mediation of the association between multimorbidity and sleep problems by pain and depressive symptoms among older adults: Evidence from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India, wave- 1

Abstract

Background There could be several possible mechanisms on how chronic conditions relate to sleep problems in older persons; for instance, pain and sleep have a strong link and depressive symptoms are similarly associated with sleep problems. The present study explored whether pain and depressive symptoms are mediators in the relationship between multimorbidity and sleep problems among older adults. Methods Study utilized data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) with a sample of 31,464 older adults age 60 years and above. Multivariable logistic regression along with mediation analysis using Karlson–Holm–Breen (KHB) method was conducted. Results A proportion of 14.8% of the participants suffered from sleep problems, whereas, 22.5% and 8.7% of older adults had multi-morbidity and had depressive symptoms, respectively. Also, around 10.3% of older adults reported pain and received no medication for the relief of pain, whereas 29.3% of older adults reported pain and received some type of medication for the relief of pain. Older adults with multi-morbidity had higher odds of suffering from sleep problems [adjusted odds ratio (aOR):1.26, confidence interval (CI):1.10–1.45] than those who had no multi-morbidity. Older adults who reported pain but received no medication for the relief of pain [aOR: 1.90, CI: 1.64–2.22] or reported pain and received medication for the relief of pain [aOR: 1.82, CI:1.62–2.04] and those who had depressive symptoms [aOR: 2.21, CI:1.89–2.57%] had higher odds of suffering from sleep problems compared to those who did not report pain and had no depressive symptoms, respectively. Around 11.2% of the association of multi-morbidity with sleep problems was mediated by pain and 4.3% of such association was mediated by depressive symptoms. Conclusion Pain and depressive symptoms were found to mediate the association between multi-morbidity and sleep problems; therefore, reducing pain and depressive symptoms may be considered to improve sleep in older multi-morbid patients.