@article {776, title = {Sleep and reported daytime sleepiness in normal subjects: the Sleep Heart Health Study.}, journal = {Sleep}, volume = {27}, year = {2004}, month = {2004 Mar 15}, pages = {293-8}, abstract = {

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To describe the distribution of nocturnal sleep characteristics and reports of daytime sleepiness in a large well-defined group of healthy adults.

DESIGN: The Sleep Heart Health Study is a multicenter study examining sleep and cardiopulmonary parameters through nocturnal polysomnography in adults enrolled in geographically distinct cardiovascular cohorts.

SETTING: Community setting.

PARTICIPANTS: 470 subjects enrolled in the Sleep Heart Health Study (n = 6440) were selected as a {\textquoteright}normative{\textquoteright} group based on screening of health conditions and daily habits that could interfere with sleep.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Home-based nocturnal polysomnography was obtained on all participants and centrally scored for sleep and respiratory parameters. Demographic and health-related data were obtained and updated at the time of the home visit. Sleep efficiency decreased by 1.6\% for each 10 years of increased age. Sleep time decreased by 0.1 hours (6.0 minutes) for each 10-year age increase and was longer in women. The arousal index increased by 0.8 for each 10-year increase in age and was lower by 1.4 in women. Women had a lower mean percentage of stage 1 and stage 2 sleep. Mean percentage of slow-wave sleep was higher in women (by 6.7\%). Percentage of slow-wave sleep decreased with increased age for men only (by 1.9\% for each 10-year age change).

CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest a clear lessening in the quantity and quality of sleep with age that appears to be more rapid in males compared to females.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Circadian Rhythm, Cohort Studies, Disorders of Excessive Somnolence, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Polysomnography, Sleep, Sleep Stages, Surveys and Questionnaires}, issn = {0161-8105}, doi = {10.1093/sleep/27.2.293}, author = {Walsleben, Joyce A and Kapur, Vishesh K and Newman, Anne B and Shahar, Eyal and Bootzin, Richard R and Rosenberg, Carl E and O{\textquoteright}Connor, George and Nieto, F Javier} }