Association between residential proximity to major roadways and sleep health in older Chinese people: the moderating role of living environments

In developing countries, the relationship between residential proximity to major roadways and sleep health in older adults remains to be seen, and more emphasis needs to be placed on the modulating role of the living environments on sleep health. For this study, we utilized population data obtained from the 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). This study used logistic hierarchical regression to examine the relationship between residential proximity to major roadways and sleep quality and duration, controlling covariates. Moreover, the moderating effect of the living environments was explored through subgroup analysis and interaction. Sensitivity analysis was used to verify the robustness of the results. The study included 7798 participants aged ≥ 65. The median age of participants was 82.00 years. Compared with those living near major roadways < 50 m, in the good sleep quality group, those living at a distance of 101–200 m had worse sleep quality (OR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.67, 0.99; P < 0.05), and the remaining distance was unrelated to good sleep quality (P > 0.05). The distance wasn’t significantly associated with bad sleep quality and duration (P > 0.05). Moreover, those living in detached houses had better sleep quality than those in the good sleep quality group (OR = 1.30, 95%CI: 1.14, 1.50; P for interaction = 0.019). The bad sleep quality group, with a musty smell, had worse sleep quality (OR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.09, 1.62; P for interaction = 0.023). High indoor ventilation frequency was associated with longer sleep duration in the long sleep duration group (OR = 1.26, 95%CI: 1.07, 1.47; P for interaction = 0.011). The residential proximity to major roadways 101–200 m was associated with worse sleep quality, but a distance of > 200 m didn’t improve sleep quality. A home’s proximity to major roadways was not associated with sleep duration. Therefore, determining the moderate distance between the house and major roadways may be a strategy for optimal sleep health.