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Sleep quality and sleep-disturbing factors of geriatric inpatients

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Key summary points

AbstractSection Aim

To evaluate the change in sleep patterns and sleep quality in older patients during hospitalization.

AbstractSection Findings

Sleep duration was shortened; however, sleep quality was not changed during hospitalization.

AbstractSection Message

Insomnia is associated with geriatric syndromes in hospitalized older adults. Sleep quality and insomnia evaluation should be a routine part of assessment during hospitalization.

Abstract

Purpose

Insomnia, a common problem in older adults, may be precipitated by multiple factors including medical conditions, social, behavioral, and environmental factors. The aims of our study were to evaluate sleep pattern changes during hospitalization, determine the predictors of sleep quality and sleep disorders in geriatric inpatients.

Methods

In this prospective observational study, all ≥ 65-year-old patients hospitalized in internal medicine wards were assessed at the time of hospitalization and after 1 week. Insomnia Severity Index and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to define insomnia and subjective sleep quality. All patients underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment. Data of factors contributing sleep disturbances during hospitalization were recorded.

Results

Totally 101 patients were recruited. Mean ± SD age was 73.5 ± 5.2 years and 53.5% were female. Frequency of poor sleepers was 58.4% at baseline and 64.7% after 1 week according to PSQI score (p 0.804). Although the total scores and frequency of insomnia did not change in the first week of hospitalization, sleep duration was significantly shortened (6.4 ± 2.6 h vs. 5.9 ± 2.7 h, respectively; p < 0.001). Age, pain, restless legs syndrome, Katz ADL, and Lawton–Brody IADL scores were independent correlates of insomnia during hospitalization.

Conclusion

The study showed that insomnia was associated with geriatric syndromes in hospitalized geriatric patients, and hospitalization reduced duration of sleep. Sleep quality and insomnia evaluation should be a fundamental part of assessment in hospitalized older adults. Considering the negative outcomes of insomnia, sleep disrupting factors should be identified and corrected.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by researchers. Authors declare the absence of shared data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    İpek Azizoğlu Şen

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, Altindag, 061100, Ankara, Turkey

    Cemile Özsürekci, Cafer Balcı, Hatice Çalışkan, Mert Eşme, Pelin Ünsal, Meltem Gülhan Halil, Mustafa Cankurtaran & Burcu Balam Doğu

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  1. İpek Azizoğlu Şen
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Correspondence to Cemile Özsürekci.

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Ethical approval was obtained from the Hacettepe University Ethical Committee with the ID: 16969557–1338 number. Human research was completed in accordance with the guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration.

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Azizoğlu Şen, İ., Özsürekci, C., Balcı, C. et al. Sleep quality and sleep-disturbing factors of geriatric inpatients. Eur Geriatr Med 12, 133–141 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-020-00400-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-020-00400-4

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