SUBJECTIVE SLEEP CHARACTERISTICS OF 1,485 MALES AND FEMALES AGED 50-93 - EFFECTS OF SEX AND AGE, AND FACTORS RELATED TO SELF-EVALUATED QUALITY OF SLEEP

Background. This epidemiologic study cross-sectionally examined the ef fects of sex and age on subjective characteristics of sleep and the fa ctors related to self-evaluated sleep quality in a Dutch noninstitutio nalized elderly population. Methods. 1,692 sleep questionnaires were m ailed to all attenders of the general practice serving Krimpen aan de Lek, the Netherlands, aged 50 or over. Both target populations and res ponders (1,485 subjects) were virtually representative of the Dutch po pulation regarding sex and age (50+) characteristics. Results. Overall , females reported significantly poorer quality of sleep, longer sleep latencies, ore nighttime awakenings, less frequent napping, and more frequent use of sedative-hypnotic drugs when compared to males. Additi onally, there was a female predominance in the prevalence of disturbed sleep onset and sleep maintenance, whereas a male predominance was ob served in the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness. Across subje cts, a significant age-related increment was found for sleep latency t ime and time spent in bed. The number of nighttime awakenings increase d significantly with age only in males. No significant correlations we re found between health status and sex, age, or subjective sleep quali ty. The most frequently reported causes of disturbed sleep onset and s leep maintenance were worries and nocturia, respectively. Subjective q uality of sleep was mostly associated with self-estimated sleep latenc y. Conclusions. Our findings extend those of previous epidemiologic st udies reporting that sleep disorders are common in the general elderly population. Future studies should further elucidate the nature and ex tent of geriatric sleep disorders to satisfy the increasing need for i ts accurate diagnosis and treatment.