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Sleep Disorders in Older Patients

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Aging and Lung Disease

Part of the book series: Respiratory Medicine ((RM))

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Abstract

Nearly half of older adults complain of difficulty sleeping [1]. Although most of such complaints can be attributed to the changes in the sleep architecture as we grow old, primary sleep disorders are more prevalent in elderly [2]. Poor sleep due to these disorders results in increased risk of significant morbidity and mortality. As we age, sleep efficiency decreases as time spent in bed increases. Underlying sleep disorders are aggravated due to a decrease in the ability to get needed sleep. However, the decreased ability is less a function of age and more a function of other factors that accompany aging, such as medical and psychiatric illness, increased medication use, advances in the endogenous circadian clock and a higher prevalence of specific sleep disorders.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Center for Sleep Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington St., #4, Boston, MA, 02111, USA

    Carolyn D’Ambrosio

  2. Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Division, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, 800 Washington Street, # 369, Boston, MA, 02111-1526, USA

    Farhan Siddiqui

Authors
  1. Farhan Siddiqui
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  2. Carolyn D’Ambrosio
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Correspondence to Carolyn D’Ambrosio .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University, Cedar Street 330, New Haven, 06520-8057, Connecticut, USA

    Margaret Pisani

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Siddiqui, F., D’Ambrosio, C. (2012). Sleep Disorders in Older Patients. In: Pisani, M. (eds) Aging and Lung Disease. Respiratory Medicine. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-727-3_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-727-3_9

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-726-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-727-3

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