Sleepiness in elderly veterans

• Published in: Sleep & breathing Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 283 - 287
• Main Authors: Papp, Klara K., Abbott, Katherine Harris, Rose, Julia Hannum, Strohl, Kingman P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.05.2014; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - classification; Activities of Daily Living - psychology; Age Factors; Aged; Aging; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentistry; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - diagnosis; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - epidemiology; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - psychology; Disorders of higher nervous function. Focal brain diseases. Central vestibular syndrome and deafness. Brain stem syndromes; Female; Frail Elderly - psychology; Frail Elderly - statistics & numerical data; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geriatric Assessment; Humans; Internal Medicine; Investigative techniques of ocular function and vision; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Mobility Limitation; Motor ability; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Original Article; Otorhinolaryngology; Overweight - diagnosis; Overweight - epidemiology; Overweight - psychology; Pediatrics; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Polysomnography; Quality of Life; Sleep; Sleep. Vigilance; Snoring - diagnosis; Snoring - epidemiology; Snoring - psychology; Statistics as Topic; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Veterans; Veterans - psychology; Veterans - statistics & numerical data; Aging; Function; Sleep; Elderly veterans; Human; Nervous system diseases; Senescence; Sleep disorder; Sleep wake cycle; Neurological disorder; Veteran; Elderly
• ISSN: 1520-9512; 1522-1709
• DOI: 10.1007/s11325-013-0879-3

Purpose This observational study seeks to describe the distribution of sleepiness among elderly male veterans and to explain the relationship between sleepiness and age, function, mobility, and depression in this population. Methods Veterans who were age 60 or older and had two or more functional limitations based on their activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living were recruited in outpatient clinics. They were recruited as part of a longitudinal study and completed questionnaires reported here at the 18-month data collection time point. Results Veterans report higher sleepiness than normal controls. Self-reported sleepiness scores are similar to those of patients who have been diagnosed with sleep disturbances. Conclusions Interventions to identify and support aging veterans with perceived sleepiness should be developed and carefully evaluated.