Seniors and Sleep Health: An Eye-opener Study from the North of India

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep is a basic human need and is imperative for good health, good quality of life (QoL), and performing well during the day. Along with the physiological changes that happen with aging, changes in sleep pattern is inexorable. Considering the implications of sleep quality and its relevance amid the elderly and the paucity of data from the region, a study is being undertaken to assess the sleep quality of aging adults and its importance, to analyze the results across socio-demographic and other factors in an urban setting. Methodology: A community-based analytical study was done in an urban resettlement colony with 459 elders. Study tools include the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire followed by a basic physical examination. Data were tabulated and analyzed with appropriate statistical measures. Results: The point prevalence of insomnia among the participants was 82% with a mean PSQI score of 7.8. Most of them reported themselves to be not active physically and preferred drinking tea before slumber. Being a female [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.48], having a television in the room (AOR 2.64), having no sleeping partner (AOR 10.2), having dyspepsia or reflux (AOR 68.7), racing thoughts or stressful (AOR 5.7), habitual daytime nap (AOR 0.14), being overweight or obese (AOR 2.5), and mild depression (AOR 2.5) had a significant role with poor sleep in the elders (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: With this study, it could be easy to infer that elderly dwelling in urban settlements abstain from habitual physical activity (PA) and tend to suffer from alarming levels of disturbed sleep. With advancing life expectancy and hence medical comorbidities, physicians may be required to include sleep health as much as any other assessment to heighten their QoL.