[Use of hypnotics by elderly patients admitted for rehabilitation]

60 persons (13 men, 47 women, median age 80 years) who were admitted to a nursing home for rehabilitation were studied with respect to sleep-related problems and consumption of hypnotic drugs. 25 patients (42%) used hypnotics regularly. The median time of drug use was 72 months. More users than non-users reported difficulty in falling asleep (OR 3.1) and were less likely to feel rested in the morning (OR 4.4). There was no difference between users and non-users with respect to sex, age, living condition, use of analgesics or drugs that can influence sleep. In general, drug consumption was significantly higher among users of hypnotics than among non-users, and more of the users drank coffee or tea in the afternoon or evening. Ten of the users did not want to discontinue their drug consumption.