Prevalence of and associations with excessive daytime sleepiness in an Australian older population.

The aim of this research is to estimate the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness in an older population and associations with sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle factors using a cross-sectional, population-based study. Participants were men (1560) and women (1759), aged 55 to 85 years, enrolled in the Hunter Community Study, a longitudinal study of aging. Measurements were self-reported questionnaires, biochemical measures, and clinical measures. Of the 3319 participants, 3053 participants completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire. The prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness was 15.3% overall and this was higher in males. In adjusted multivariate analysis, gender, working full time, body mass index, high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale score, and Kessler psychological distress score were associated with excessive daytime sleepiness. Given the high prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness observed in this study, further investigation and/or interventions to reduce adverse health outcomes, especially in males is warranted.