Table 4.

Change in severity of self-reported sleep disturbances from baseline to year 1 among women in SWAN who reported sleep disturbances, by medication type

	Baseline visit		Visit 1 year after		P value*
	No sleep medications n=447	BZD users n=87	No sleep medications n=447	BZD users n=87
						Mean (95% CI)
	Difficulty initiating sleep	2.6 (2.5 to 2.7)	2.2 (2.5 to 3.2)	2.3 (2.2 to 2.5)		2.6 (2.3 to 2.9)	0.71
Waking frequently during sleep	3.7 (3.6 to 3.8)	3.8 (3.5 to 4.1)	3.5 (3.3 to 3.6)	3.3 (3.0 to 3.6)	0.24
Early morning awakening	2.7 (2.6 to 2.8)	2.6 (2.3 to 2.9)	2.5 (2.3 to 2.6)	2.6 (2.3 to 2.9)	0.17
	No sleep medications n=447	Z-drugs+other hypnotics n=151	No sleep medications n=447	Z-drugs+other hypnotics n=151
Difficulty initiating sleep	2.6 (2.5 to 2.7)	2.7 (2.4 to 3.0)	2.3 (2.2 to 2.4)	2.6 (2.3 to 2.8)	0.12
Waking frequently during sleep	3.7 (3.6 to 3.8)	3.8 (3.6 to 4.0)	3.5 (3.3 to 3.6)	3.8 (3.6 to 4.0)	0.05
Early morning awakening	2.7 (2.5 to 2.8)	2.9 (2.7 to 3.1)	2.5 (2.3 to 2.6)	2.8 (2.6 to 3.0)	0.28

Z-drugs (selective BZD receptor agonists) include zolpidem, zaleplon and eszopiclone. Means calculated based on 5-point Likert scale, where 1=no difficulties on any nights, 2=difficulties on less than one night per week, 3=one to two nights per week, 4=three to four nights per week and 5=five to seven nights per week.

*P values reflect the differences between the sleep medication users and non-users in the change in severity of disturbances between baseline and year 1.

BZD, benzodiazepine; SWAN, Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation.