Features of older women with sleep disorder

CILJEVI ISTRAŽIVANJA. Ciljevi ovog istraživanja bili su ispitati čimbenike rizika lošije kvalitete spavanja u žena starije dobi. Specifični ciljevi bili su ispitati čimbenike rizika u starijih žena s poremećajem spavanja vezane uz demografske i osobne podatke, opće zdravstveno stanje, broj i vrstu kroničnih bolesti te lijekove. USTROJ STUDIJE. Presječna studija. ISPITANICI I METODE. Ispitanici su žene dobi 60 - 80 godina uzete iz tri ambulante obiteljske medicine. Analiziralo se 105 žena. Za probir žena s poremećajem spavanja te žena bez poremećaja spavanja, koristio se Pittsburgh indeks kvalitete spavanja. Podatke za ispitivanje značajki žena s poremećajem spavanja dobilo se anketnim upitnikom te korištenjem podataka iz e-kartona pacijenata. REZULTATI. Žene koje loše spavaju više boluju od dispepsije (p = 0,022) i uroinfekcija (p = 0,006), a veliki broj žena koje loše spavaju koristi dva ili više lijekova koji imaju utjecaj na mentalne funkcije (p = 0,044). Žene koje loše spavaju za razliku od žena koje dobro spavaju u većem broju imaju povremene trenutke iznenadne slabosti, gubitka stabilnosti ili im se „zacrni“ pred očima (p = 0,012), često imaju vrtoglavice (p = 0,042), više koriste antidepresive (p = 0,035), imaju smanjenu sposobnost u obavljanju svakodnevnih aktivnosti (p = 0,041) te svoje raspoloženje češće opisuju kao promjenjivo i depresivno (p = 0,048). ZAKLJUČAK. Rezultati ovog istraživanja pokazuju neke od značajki žena s poremećajem spavanja dobi 60 – 80 godina. Potrebna su istraživanja s većim brojem bolesnika da bi se dobiveni rezultati opravdali.OBJECTIVES. The objectives of this study were to examine the risk factors of lower quality of sleep in elderly women. Specific objectives were to examine risk factors in elderly women with a sleep disorder associated with: demographical and personal information, general health condition, number and type of chronic illnesses and medications. STUDY DESIGN. A cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANS AND METHODS. Participants were women aged 60 - 80 years, taken from three different offices for family medicine. The total number of analysed women is 105. A Pittsburgh sleep quality index was used for screening women with sleep disorders and women without sleep disorders. The data for testing characteristics of women with a sleep disorder were obtained using a questionnaire and by using data from patients' e-records. RESULTS. Women who have more trouble sleeping, have more tendency to suffer from dyspepsia (p = 0.022) and urinary tract infections (p = 0.006). Also, a great number of women whose sleep is of lower quality use two or more medications that have an impact on mental functions (p = 0.044). Unlike women who have no trouble sleeping, women who have a low quality of sleep have occasional moments of sudden weakness, loss of stability, have ”black outs“ before their eyes (p = 0.012), often feel dizziness (p = 0.042), use antidepressants more often (p = 0.035), have a reduced ability to perform daily activities (p = 0.041) and often describe their mood as changeable and depressed (p = 0.048). CONCLUSION. Results of this study show some of the characteristics of women (60 – 80 years old) with a sleep disorder. More research is needed, with larger number of patients to justify the results obtained in this research