Sleep disorder is associated with any-domain intrinsic capacity impairment in community-dwelling older adults with chronic diseases
In a cross-sectional study of 1063 community-dwelling older adults with chronic diseases in Nanjing, China, sleep disorder was significantly associated with any-domain intrinsic capacity impairment (OR 2.94, 95% CI 2.12 to 4.07). The prevalence of any-domain intrinsic capacity impairment was 70.18%, with sensory impairment being the most common domain deficit.
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Sleep disorder is associated with any-domain intrinsic capacity impairment in community-dwelling older adults with chronic diseases The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 34/100 (low).
The Claim
Sleep disorder is associated with any-domain intrinsic capacity impairment in community-dwelling older adults with chronic diseases
This conclusion is most relevant to: Community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older with at least one physician-diagnosed chronic disease in urban communities in Nanjing, China.
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Intrinsic capacity impairment and modifiable associated factors among community-dwelling older adults with chronic diseases in China: a cross-sectional study. (BMJ open, 2026) — In a cross-sectional study of 1063 community-dwelling older adults with chronic diseases in Nanjing, China, sleep disorder was significantly associated with any-domain intrinsic capacity impairment (OR 2.94, 95% CI 2.12 to 4.07). The prevalence of any-domain intrinsic capacity impairment was 70.18%, with sensory impairment being the most common domain deficit.
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸Sleep disorder may disrupt physiological restoration and hormonal balance
- ▸Chronic sleep disturbance can lead to systemic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation
- ▸These processes may accelerate decline in multiple intrinsic capacity domains
- ▸Result: Increased likelihood of any-domain intrinsic capacity impairment
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸Community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older with at least one physician-diagnosed chronic disease in urban communities in Nanjing, China
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Cross-sectional design precludes causal or temporal inference
- ▸Data were collected from selected urban communities in Nanjing, limiting generalizability to other regions or rural populations
- ▸Sleep disorder was likely self-reported, which may introduce recall bias
Frequently Asked Questions
What is intrinsic capacity impairment?▼
Intrinsic capacity impairment is defined as impairment in at least one of five domains: locomotion, cognition, vitality, psychological capacity, and sensory capacity. In this study, any-domain impairment was present in 70.18% of participants.
How strong is the association between sleep disorder and intrinsic capacity impairment?▼
Sleep disorder was associated with nearly three times higher odds of any-domain intrinsic capacity impairment (OR 2.94, 95% CI 2.12 to 4.07), after adjusting for other factors.
What other factors were associated with intrinsic capacity impairment?▼
Other associated factors included age older than 70 years, living alone, having two or more chronic diseases, lack of regular exercise, low eHealth literacy, and social frailty.
Can we conclude that sleep disorder causes intrinsic capacity impairment?▼
No, because this is a cross-sectional study, causal or temporal relationships cannot be inferred. The association may be bidirectional or due to confounding.
References
- 1.Weng Y, Wang D, Ma L, Wang P, Wang X, Zhang Y, Zhang P, Xu Y. “Intrinsic capacity impairment and modifiable associated factors among community-dwelling older adults with chronic diseases in China: a cross-sectional study..” BMJ open, 2026. PMID: 42556846 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-122642