Poor sleep quality (PSQI > 9.5) is associated with increased odds of fall history in older adults with type 2 diabetes
In a cross-sectional study of 60 participants (30 with T2DM, 30 controls), PSQI was the only variable significantly associated with fall status within the T2DM group (OR = 1.239, 95% CI: 1.033–1.488). ROC analysis showed PSQI had acceptable discriminative ability (AUC = 0.785, p = 0.010) with an optimal cut-off of 9.5, yielding 72.7% sensitivity and 84.2% specificity.
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Poor sleep quality (PSQI > 9.5) is associated with increased odds of fall history in older adults with type 2 diabetes The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 34/100 (low).
The Claim
Poor sleep quality (PSQI > 9.5) is associated with increased odds of fall history in older adults with type 2 diabetes
This conclusion is most relevant to: Middle-aged and older adults (aged >50) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=30) and age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n=30).
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Dual-task timed up and go performance and sleep quality in relation to fall history in older adults with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study. (Frontiers in public health, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸T2DM is associated with impairments in motor and cognitive function, increasing fall risk
- ▸Poor sleep quality may further impair cognitive and motor performance, increasing fall risk
- ▸PSQI score >9.5 identified as a critical threshold for fall risk
- ▸Fall risk in T2DM is multidimensional, with behavioral and psychological factors playing a key role
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸Middle-aged and older adults (aged >50) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=30) and age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n=30)
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
- ▸Small sample size (n=60) and single-center study may limit generalizability
- ▸Fall history was self-reported, subject to recall bias
- ▸Potential unmeasured confounders (e.g., medication use, neuropathy severity) not accounted for
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the optimal PSQI cutoff for predicting fall risk in older adults with type 2 diabetes?▼
The study found a PSQI score greater than 9.5 to be the optimal cutoff, with 72.7% sensitivity and 84.2% specificity for identifying fallers.
Is poor sleep quality more important than mobility performance for fall risk in T2DM?▼
In this study, PSQI was the only significant predictor of fall status in logistic regression, while TUG-DT performance was not significantly associated with falls, suggesting sleep quality may be a stronger correlate.
How does TUG-DT performance differ between T2DM patients and healthy controls?▼
T2DM patients showed significantly impaired TUG-DT performance, with increased cognitive errors, cognitive pauses, and movement pauses compared to controls, indicating reduced functional mobility.
What lifestyle factors were associated with T2DM in this study?▼
Smoking and exercise behavior differed significantly between T2DM and control groups, but these were not significant predictors of fall status within the T2DM group.
References
- 1.Zhang X, Wang S, Sun C, Li S, Hu Y. “Dual-task timed up and go performance and sleep quality in relation to fall history in older adults with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study..” Frontiers in public health, 2026. PMID: 42625614 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1856870