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Comorbidities and Risk Factors Associated With Insomnia in the Elderly Population
Neil Mookerjee1, Nicole Schmalbach1, Gianna Antinori1
1Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA.
Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
|April 18, 2023
Summary
Chronic insomnia is common in older adults. This study found that female sex, dementia, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain are linked to insomnia in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sleep Medicine
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Sleep disorders, particularly chronic insomnia, significantly impact the elderly population in the US.
- There has been a substantial rise in insomnia-related healthcare visits, underscoring the need to identify risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between various risk factors and comorbid medical conditions with insomnia in patients aged 65 and older.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of electronic medical records was conducted for patients aged 65+.
- Patients were categorized into two groups: those with insomnia and those without.
- Associated variables and comorbidities were compared between the groups.
Main Results:
- Insomnia was present in 10.2% of the 2431 patients studied.
- Women, dementia, depression, anxiety, atrial fibrillation, and chronic pain disorders were more frequent in the insomnia group.
- Depression, anxiety, and chronic pain significantly increased the odds of insomnia in elderly patients.
Conclusions:
- Female sex, dementia, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and atrial fibrillation are associated with insomnia in the elderly.
- Depression, anxiety, and chronic pain disorders are particularly linked to a higher likelihood of insomnia in this demographic.
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