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Updated: Jun 9, 2025
07:40
Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults
Published on: January 26, 2019
7.6K
Sex Differences in Elderly People's Sleep: A Cross-Sectional Study
Francesco Salis1,2, Maristella Belfiori1, Michela Figorilli3,4
1Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
|October 26, 2024
Summary
In elderly individuals, initial findings suggested men had better sleep quality than women. However, this sex difference in sleep quality disappeared after accounting for cognitive status and mood.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Sleep Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Sex differences in sleep medicine are not well-established in older adults.
- Existing research often relies on preclinical data or studies on younger populations.
- There is a need to investigate sleep patterns in elderly cohorts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine sex-based variations in sleep quality and daytime sleepiness among individuals aged 65 and above.
- To contribute to a clearer understanding of geriatric sleep medicine.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed.
- Participants (aged 65+) underwent comprehensive evaluations.
- Validated instruments assessed sleep quality and daytime sleepiness.
Main Results:
- The study included 226 participants, with 69.5% being women.
- A significant proportion (64.2%) reported poor sleep quality.
- Initially, men showed lower odds of poor sleep quality (OR 0.48), but this became insignificant after adjusting for cognitive status and mood (OR 0.72).
Conclusions:
- Observed sex differences in sleep quality among the elderly appear to be influenced by other factors.
- Cognitive status and mood significantly impact the relationship between sex and sleep quality in older adults.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay of factors affecting sleep in this demographic.
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