Sleep parameters in postmenopausal women and their relationship with moderate-vigorous physical activity

Abstract

Menopause is associated with decreased physical activity and sleep disturbances. Short sleep duration and poor sleep quality have been associated with an increased risk of falls, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. It´s important to understand how physical activity influences sleep health in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study was to analyse the variation of sleep duration and quality as a function of moderate-vigorous physical activity (not recommended, MVPA<150 min/week; recommended, MVPA between 150 and 300 min/week; highly recommended, AFM>300 min/week). The sample included 40 postmenopausal women (57.28±5.68 years) enrolled in the Meno(s)Pause+Movement, 85% documenting the use of hormone therapy. Sleep (TST, total sleep time; SOL, sleep onset latency; SE, sleep efficiency; SFI, sleep fragmentation index) and physical activity were estimated using ActiGraph GT3X+ activity monitors. Physical activity was classified according to WHO (2020) guidelines and body composition was measured using bioimpedance (InBody 120). One-way ANOVA was used to compare the means of the variables in the MVPA groups being considered a 5% degree of statistical significance. Women taking medication that influenced sleep were eliminated from the analysis. The research was approved by the Ethics Committee of the UTAD (ref. Doc77-CE-UTAD-2022). Most of the sample showed fat mass ≥35% (65%) and visceral fat >9 points (72.5%). The average MVPA was 299,05 min/week, with 30 women showing levels of at least 150 min/week. All participants presented SFI>5 number of events (25,66±6,38 number of events) and SOL£30 minutes (2.83±1.29 min). The average TST was 7.38 (±0.50) min/day, with 75% showing recommended values. The MVPA groups did not produce a differentiated effect (p>0.05) on the parameters related to the duration and quality of sleep. There is no relationship between MVPA and sleep duration and quality in postmenopausal women. A replication study in a larger sample is suggested.