[Prevalence of sleep disorders among 3173 elderly in Taiyuan city: a cross-sectional study].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence rates of sleep disorders and the correlative in the elderly from Taiyuan city.

METHODS

All of the 3173 elderly (aged 60 years to 100 years) in Taiyuan city were investigated at home through questionnaires, regarding their sleep condition. Subjects with sleep disorders were then screened through questionnaires and reexamined/diagnosed by special doctors.

RESULTS

(1) Among the 3173 elderly, 2132 subjects complained of having sleep disorders. The total prevalence of sleep disorders was 67.2%. The prevalence rates of chronic insomnia, multi-dreams, habitual snoring and daytime drowsiness were 39.65%, 38.58%, 26.66% and 34.32% respectively. (2) In the male elderly, the prevalence rates of being awaken early, having more urination at night, daytime drowsiness, sleep-respiratory disturbance and indiscriminate sleep rhythm increased with age (P < 0.01). However, in the female elderly, the prevalence rates of being awaken early, having daytime drowsiness and indiscriminate sleep rhythm also had a tendency of increase (P < 0.01). (3) Living alone, emotional disorder, pain and nocturia (P < 0.01) were the risk factors of chronic insomnia in the male elderly while living alone, numbness/pruritus (P < 0.01), emotional disorder (P < 0.05), were the risk factors of chronic insomnia in the female elderly.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence rates of some sleep disturbances in the elderly in Taiyuan city were generally correspondent with prevalence rates reported elsewhere that called for more attention be paid to the effect of mood disturbance and diseases related to sleep condition among the elderly.