[Sleep disorders in elderly patients who take hypnotics on a regular basis].
BACKGROUND
Several studies have shown that the prevalence of sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea and periodic limb movements in sleep increases significantly with age. The assessment capacity is limited and there is a paucity of knowledge in this field among health professional, hence we hypothesise that these disorders are to a considerable extent under-diagnosed in the elderly, as the symptoms are often conceived of as insomnia.


METHODS
Using ambulant clinical polysomnography, we investigated 19 patients aged 55 years or above who had been taking hypnotics on a daily basis (5 to 7 days a week) for at least one year.


RESULTS
Among these 19 patients, the prevalence of sleep apnoea (AHI > 10) as well as periodic limb movements in sleep (PLM index > 10) was 42%; 74% had either sleep apnoea, periodic limb movements in sleep, or both.


CONCLUSIONS
Seen in relation to the fact that these elderly patients were given hypnotics for insomnia, the prevalence rates of sleep apnoea and periodic limb movements in sleep were high. We suggest that non-pharmacological alternatives should be considered and careful sleep assessment carried out before long-term prescription of hypnotics is instituted.
Sivertsen
Børge
B
Institutt for klinisk psykologi, Universitetet i Bergen, Christiesgate 12, 5015 Bergen. borge.sivertsen@psykp.uib.no
Omvik
Siri
S
Pallesen
Ståle
S
Nordhus
Inger Hilde
IH
Bjorvatn
Bjørn
B
D000368:Aged; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D020189:Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017286:Polysomnography; D015995:Prevalence; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012894:Sleep Stages; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010879:Piperazines; C515050:zopiclone