[Sleep disorders in the aged].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was the assessment of prevalence and risk factors of sleep disorders in the elderly.


METHODS
The study sample consisted of a group of institutionalized elderly, from two university affiliated community nursing homes in Turin. The following subjects were excluded: a) those aged less than 65 years; b) had length of stay less than thirty days; c) were not able to communicate because of severe aphasia or severe hearing loss and d) had cognitive impairment based on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ ) > 5. A total of 88 subjects (65-102 ys; 24 male and 64 female) have been studied. Comorbidity was measured using the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation scale (APACHE), disability using the index of Activity Daily Living (ADL), depressive symptoms using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS); sleep quality was determined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the subjective health by the Self-Rated Health (SRH) was also evaluated.


RESULTS
Using the PSQI questionnaire, 70 subjects (79.5%) were identified as "poor sleepers" (PSQI > 5). They complained of difficulties in getting sleep (85.7%) and frequent awakening (75.7%). The most common causes of sleep disturbances were nycturia (51.4%), cough (38.6%) and pain (32.9%). Insomnia correlated with depressive symptoms, poor physical activity, number of medications and bad self-rated health.


CONCLUSIONS
Sleep disorders probably are due to physical, psychological or ambient factors. The identification and correction of treatable causes of insomnia are relevant for improving the quality of sleep and health in the elderly.
Zanocchi
M
M
Dipartimento di Discipline Medico-Chirurgiche, Università degli Studi, Torino.
Ponzetto
M
M
Spada
S
S
Risso
R
R
Aimar
T
T
Maero
B
B
Giona
E
E
Fabris
F
F
D018806:APACHE; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012737:Sex Factors; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires