[Sleep disorders and environmental conditions in the elderly].

Objectives: To establish the prevalence and characteristics of insomnia and its relationship to other health problems, medication, socio-health status and sleep hygiene in the elderly over 65 years of age.

Design: Cross sectional study of prevalence.

Setting: Albacete (Castilla-La Mancha), 2004-2005.

Participants: A non-institutionalized elderly patient population (n=424).

Method: Semi-structured interview. Study variables were: sleep characteristics, socio-familial repercussions, sleep hygiene, health problems, medication, health care utilization and socio-demographic variables. Primary insomnia (PI) was diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria.

Results: Reported sleeping difficulties, 34.2%; in 95.7% the sleep disturbance was chronic. The most frequent repercussions were: sensation of insufficient night-time sleep (62.1%) and daytime tiredness or sleepiness (52.2%). 20.3% (95% CI, 16.5-24.1) met criteria for PI. Insomnia rates were significantly higher in females and in subjects maintaining irregular hours and expressing dissatisfaction with bedroom environmental conditions. Psychopharmaceuticals were regularly consumed by 26.9% of the subjects (95% CI, 22.7-31.1). The average number of health problems was higher in subjects with insomnia (2.4+/-1.6 compared with 1.7+/-1.5 in non-insomniacs; P<.001). By means of logistic regression, female gender (OR=2.8; 95% CI, 1.6-4.8) and the existence of 2 or more health problems (OR=2; 95% CI. 1.2-3.4) were associated with PI.

Conclusions: PI affects approximately one fifth of people over the age of 65. It is more frequent in females and is related to the existence of other health problems, medication and inadequate sleep hygiene.