LATEBREAKER
Environment/Climate Change
Sleep Health among Communities Placed at Risk of Climate Change-Related Disaster Chandra L. Jackson* Symielle A. Gaston Kaitlyn Lawrence Steve B. Ampah W. Braxton Jackson II Marina R. Sweeney Casey Zuzak Melanie Gall Christopher Emrich Dale P. Sandler Chandra L. Jackson
Climate change-related disasters resulting from natural hazards (e.g., hurricanes) can disrupt sleep environments, negatively impact sleep, and potentially exacerbate sleep disparities. However, data are sparse. To investigate sleep health among communities at risk of natural hazards, overall and by race/ethnicity and gender, we used data from the US Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study. Geocoded residential addresses at enrollment were linked to census tract-level National Risk Index (NRI) percentile data, which quantifies and ranks the risk of negative impacts of natural hazards (e.g., heat waves) in an area compared to other geographical areas in the US. Multiple sleep dimensions self-reported in 2017-2021 included short workday and non-workday sleep duration (<7 hours); insomnia symptoms; excessive sleepiness; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores for sleep disturbances, sleep medication use, and daytime dysfunction; sleep disordered breathing; and healthcare provider-diagnosed sleep apnea. We determined PRs using modified Poisson regression or mean differences and 95% CIs between NRI quartiles (Q4-Q2 vs. Q1 [lowest risk]) and each sleep dimension, adjusting for sociodemographic, health, and environmental exposure characteristics. We tested interaction terms by race/ethnicity and gender. Among 9,534 adults (mean age±SD of 44±13 years; 81% men, 69% White, 19% Black, 12% another race/ethnicity), participants in NRI Q4 vs. Q1 had a higher prevalence of short non-workday sleep duration (PR=1.21 [95% CI:1.02-1.44]) and insomnia symptoms (PR=1.19 [1.09-1.31]) as well as higher sleep medication use and daytime dysfunction. A non-monotonic association between NRI Q2 vs. Q1 and a higher prevalence of sleep apnea occurred only among participants identifying as another race/ethnicity than White or Black (PR=1.52 [1.02-2.24]; p-interaction=0.02). NRI was not associated with other sleep dimensions. Higher climate-related disaster vulnerability was associated with poorer sleep.