Excessive daytime somnolence and hypnotic use in the elderly

Authors

  • José Carlos Souza Universidade Católica Dom Bosco
  • Luís Alberto Magna Universidade de Campinas; Faculdade de Ciências Médicas; Departamento de Genética Médica
  • Thaís Helena de Paula Universidade de Campinas; Faculdade de Ciências Médicas; Departamento de Genética Médica

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832003000300002

Keywords:

Aged, Excessive daytime somnolence, Hypnotic-therapeutic-use, Epworth sleepiness scale - questionnaire

Abstract

Background: Excessive daytime somnolence (EDS) and hypnotics therapeutic use increase with age. Methods: A group of 148 elderly residents of a continued-care institution was interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire and also the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), from december 11, 2000 to february 02, 2001. There were descriptive statistics and analyzed by means of Student's t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square and Pearson's Test. Results: EDS was present in 24% of the elderly persons of the sample (ESS >; 11). There was no association among age and residence time with EDS (p = 0.10 and p = 0.37 respectively), gender and instruction grade with EDS (p = 0.30 and p = 0.27 respectively). EDS wasn't associated with both hypnotic therapeutic use (p = 0.62) and alternative habits to sleep better (p = 0.65). The married people showed a higher frequency of EDS (p < 0.01). It was also seen that, decreased levels of daily activity were more frequent in those people with EDS (p = 0.05). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of EDS, hypnotic and alternative sleep habits usage, without significative associations.

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Published

2003-01-01

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 3 (2003)

Section

Original Articles

License

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Manuscripts are accepted with the understanding that the Editor and the editorial staff have the right to make revisions aimed at greater conciseness, clarity, and conformity with Journal style, of course without changing its content.

How to Cite

Excessive daytime somnolence and hypnotic use in the elderly . (2003). Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 30(3), 80-85. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832003000300002