Prevalence of insomnia and related factors in a large mid-aged female Colombian sample.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of insomnia and related factors in a large cohort of mid-aged Colombian women of different ethnical background.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1325 women aged 40-59 of 3 ethnical groups: Mestizo (70.0%), Black (11.5%) and Zenú indigenous (18.5%), who completed the items of the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and a general questionnaire containing personal socio-demographic data.

Results: Median [interquartile range] age of the whole sample was 48.0 [10.0] years. A 43.4% were postmenopausal, 51.7% had increased body mass index values, 18.2% had hypertension and 5.1% used hormone therapy. A 27.5% displayed insomnia (AIS total score ≥6). Significant Spearman rho correlations were found between total AIS and MRS scores (total and subscales). Multiple linear regression analysis found that higher total AIS scores (more insomnia) correlated with tobacco consumption and higher MRS psychological and somatic subscale scores (more severe symptoms). Age, ethnicity and partner and menopausal status were excluded from the final regression model.

Conclusions: In this large mid-aged Colombian cohort insomnia was present in nearly one third of cases, related to smoking habit and the severity of somatic and psychological menopausal symptoms and independent of ethnics and menopausal status.