Quality of Sleep in Elderly Patients with Diabetes Mellitus from Turkey: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients frequently experience poor sleep quality. We aimed to determine its prevalence and risk factors in diabetic elderly patients from Turkey.

METHODS

An observational cross-sectional study of 220 diabetic elderly patients with a mean age of 70.4 ± 5.9 was conducted between June 2019 and December 2019. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire was used. Patients were divided based on sleep quality into poor (PSQI> 5) and good (PSQI≤ 5) sleep quality groups. Geriatric Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Hendrich II Fall Risk Model were adopted. The prevalence of poor sleep quality and risk factors were evaluated.

RESULTS

Prevalence of poor sleep quality was 58.6%. Poor sleepers were significantly older, were more likely to be divorced, had more comorbidities, and used more medicines (ps<0.05). Longer duration of diabetes, higher incidence of hypoglycemic events, and diabetic complications were significantly associated with poor sleep quality (ps<0.05). Poor sleepers had higher levels of blood glucose and HbA1c levels (ps<0.05). PSQI was significantly correlated with age, HbA1c, duration of diabetes, higher depression, anxiety, and falling risk (ps<0.05). Severe depression, anxiety, and higher falling risk were independent risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Most patients experienced poor sleep quality. It was associated with a longer duration of diabetes, chronic diabetes-related complications, and higher HbA1c levels. Severe depression, anxiety, and higher falling risk were risk factors for poor sleep quality.