PURPOSE: admission to nursing homes is often associated with major changes in the way the elderly live, possibly leading to sleep disorders. The aim of our study was to assess sleep quality in the elderly without dementia living in nursing homes, to determine the prevalence of sleep disorders, and to examine the links between sleep quality and sociodemographic features, comorbidities, and degree of dependency. METHODS: we carried out a cross-sectional survey, involving old people living in Manouba nursing home. Assessment of sleep was performed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. We excluded subjects with severe motor or sensory impairments as well as individuals with cognitive impairment. RESULTS: thirty-two patients were included in the study. The majority (68.8%) were male, institutionalized for an average period of 6.3 years. Mean age was 71.6 years. More than half of the subjects (56.3%) had depression, and 93.8% had one or more chronic conditions. About one third (37.5%) of residents were dependent in one or more activities of daily living and 25% were confined to bed or to a wheelchair. The majority of residents (73%) were identified as "poor sleepers" based on a global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score >5. Sleep disorders were attributed to nocturia, nocturnal or premature awakenings and pain. We noted a fairly large percentage (18.8%) of hypnotic drugs intake among participants. Our results also showed a strong association between poor sleep quality and depression (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: early detection of sleep disorders in nursing home residents can help them to get an optimized and efficacious treatment.
PURPOSE: admission to nursing homes is often associated with major changes in the way the elderly live, possibly leading to sleep disorders. The aim of our study was to assess sleep quality in the elderly without dementia living in nursing homes, to determine the prevalence of sleep disorders, and to examine the links between sleep quality and sociodemographic features, comorbidities, and degree of dependency. METHODS: we carried out a cross-sectional survey, involving old people living in Manouba nursing home. Assessment of sleep was performed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. We excluded subjects with severe motor or sensory impairments as well as individuals with cognitive impairment. RESULTS: thirty-two patients were included in the study. The majority (68.8%) were male, institutionalized for an average period of 6.3 years. Mean age was 71.6 years. More than half of the subjects (56.3%) had depression, and 93.8% had one or more chronic conditions. About one third (37.5%) of residents were dependent in one or more activities of daily living and 25% were confined to bed or to a wheelchair. The majority of residents (73%) were identified as "poor sleepers" based on a global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score >5. Sleep disorders were attributed to nocturia, nocturnal or premature awakenings and pain. We noted a fairly large percentage (18.8%) of hypnotic drugs intake among participants. Our results also showed a strong association between poor sleep quality and depression (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: early detection of sleep disorders in nursing home residents can help them to get an optimized and efficacious treatment.