[Sleep disturbances related to nocturnal nuisances in elderly inpatients]

Several environmental factors play a role in the poor quality of sleep of hospitalized patients, such as noise pollution, nocturnal awakenings for the administration of medication or the taking of vital signs, the discomfort of the beds, the luminosity or even certain night-time equipment. To cope with these insomnia problems in the hospital setting, patients often request drug treatment, which leads to over-prescription of sedatives, such as benzodiazepines. This leads to serious side effects such as an increased risk of falling, confusion and respiratory depression. This hostile hospital environment must be taken into account before considering specific treatment.