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[Insomnia and sleeping disorders in the elderly in general practice]
Gustav Kamenski1, Ingrid Pichler, Beate Zöhrer
1Arbeitsgemeinschaft zur Erforschung der Aligemeinmedizin, Angern und Niederösterreichische Gesellschaft für Allgemeinmedizin (NOGAM) Angern, Osterreich. kamenski@nextra.at
Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
|March 9, 2004
Summary
Sleeping disorders are common in elderly patients seeking general practice consultations, affecting 7% of them. Many elderly patients experience insomnia or nocturia, indicating a high prevalence of sleep issues in this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sleep Medicine
- General Practice
Context:
- Sleep disorders are frequently underreported in primary care settings.
- Elderly patients often present with diverse health concerns, potentially masking sleep-related issues.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence and consultation patterns of sleep disorders in patients over sixty years old in eastern Austrian general practices.
- To investigate the frequency of sleep disorders as a reason for seeking medical advice in the elderly population.
Summary:
- Sleep disorders constituted 7% of all consultations in elderly patients (over 60) in eastern Austrian general practices.
- Insomnia was reported by 45% of elderly patients when specifically asked, and nocturia by half.
- A high prevalence of sleep disorders was observed in unselected elderly patients presenting for various reasons.
Impact:
- Highlights the significant burden of sleep disorders in elderly primary care populations.
- Suggests the need for routine screening for sleep disorders in older adults attending general practice.
- Informs healthcare providers about the common manifestations and consulting patterns of sleep disorders in geriatric patients.