Measuring sleep quality in older adults: a comparison using subjective and objective methods

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sleep Medicine
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Sleep quality declines with age, leading to prevalent complaints in older adults, especially those with cognitive impairment or dementia.
• Poor sleep quality in older adults is increasingly linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
• Accurate sleep assessment is crucial given the aging population and the economic impact of dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the predictive validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) against objective sleep quality measures in adults aged 55 and older.
• To compare subjective sleep quality assessments (PSQI, Consensus Sleep Diary) with objective actigraphy in older adults.
• To determine the suitability of the PSQI as a standalone measure for sleep quality in the aging population.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 78 community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older.
• Assessed subjective sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Consensus Sleep Diary (CSD).
• Measured objective sleep quality using actigraphy (MotionWatch 8©).

Main Results:

• Perceived sleep quality significantly differs from objectively measured sleep quality in adults aged 55 and older.
• This discrepancy between subjective and objective sleep measures was not associated with age, gender, education, or cognitive status.
• The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) demonstrated limited predictive validity for objective sleep quality in this cohort.

Conclusions:

• The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) may not accurately reflect objective sleep quality in older adults.
• Actigraphy and subjective measures like the PSQI should not be used interchangeably for assessing sleep in older populations.
• Comprehensive sleep quality assessment in older adults necessitates the combined use of subjective (PSQI, CSD) and objective (actigraphy) methods.