Exploring the Relationship Between Sleep Quality, Obesity, and Biochemical Markers in Elderly Outpatients

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the relationship between sleep quality (measured by The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index—PSQI), body mass index (BMI), and obesity status, and to explore whether metabolic factors (e.g., fasting glucose, triglycerides, and high-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) influence this association in elderly outpatients.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 404 elderly people at Thai Binh Medical University Hospital, Vietnam from October 2023 to June 2024. Adults who were 60 years and older underwent outpatient evaluations and biochemical blood tests and were recruited through convenience sampling. Sleep quality was self-reported (PSQI), whereas BMI and biochemical markers were measured.

Results

The average PSQI score was 11.00 ± 2.68, and the average BMI was 22.56 ± 2.36. The older adults with normal sleep quality had a significantly higher BMI than those with poor sleep quality (p < 0.05). The obesity rate was 13.1%, while metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 36.4% of participants. Logistic regression revealed that higher education levels were associated with increased odds of poor sleep quality compared to those with primary education and lower. There was no association between sleep quality, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.

Conclusions

The study revealed that education level and BMI significantly affected sleep quality; however, no association was found between sleep quality and obesity or metabolic syndrome in older adults. Improving sleep habits should be considered in the weight management of the elderly.