Background/Objective 

Sleep disturbance is common among adults with osteoarthritis (OA), but little is known about patterns over time. In this cohort study, we identified restless sleep trajectories and associated factors in adults with or at high risk for knee OA.

Methods 

Longitudinal (2004–2014) restless sleep (≥3 nights/week) annual reports over 8 years from 4359 Osteoarthritis Initiative participants were analyzed. Group-based trajectory modeling identified heterogeneous temporal patterns. Logistic regression identified baseline health and behavioral predictors of trajectory membership.

Results 

Four restless sleep trajectory groups were identified: good (69.7%, persistently low restless sleep probabilities), worsening (9.1%), improving (11.7%), and poor (9.5%, persistently high). Among 2 groups initially having low restless sleep prevalence, the worsening trajectory group had an increased likelihood of baseline cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–2.33), pulmonary disease (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.07–2.05), lower physical activity (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.03–1.61), knee pain (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00–1.07), depressive symptoms (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01–1.06), and a decreased likelihood of better mental health (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95–0.98) at baseline. Among 2 groups initially having high restless sleep prevalence, the poor group had an increased likelihood of baseline depressive symptoms (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00–1.05).

Conclusions 

Four trajectories of restless sleep over 8 years were identified using data collected from over 4000 older adults aged 45 to 79 years with or at higher risk for knee OA. The presence of depressive symptoms, less physical activity, knee pain, poor mental health, cardiovascular disease, or pulmonary disease was each associated with unfavorable trajectories.