Predictors of observed sleep/wakefulness in residents in long-term care

This cross-sectional study investigated predictors of sleep/wakefulness in residents in a skilled care nursing facility. Sleep/wakefulness was defined behaviorally by observations made four times an hour over four 12-hour observation periods. Predictors studied were mental status, functional capacity, relative likelihood of cardiovascular/respiratory, musculoskeletal, and endocrine disease, psychotropic medication intake, and presence of sleep apnea. Results based on 39 residents indicated that sleep apnea was a positive consistent predictor of observed sleep in the nursing home. Apnea generally was unrelated to other predictors. We discuss these findings in terms of the viability of this technique to study sleep as well as other potential predictors of sleep/wakefulness in elderly institutionalized patients.