Abstract

LOPEZ-TORRES HIDALGO, Jesús et al. The health status of older people with insomnia. Gac Sanit [online]. 2013, vol.27, n.1, pp.47-52. ISSN 0213-9111.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2011.11.014.

Objectives: To evaluate the perceived health status of elderly patients with insomnia, whether primary, secondary to a medical illness, or associated with another mental disorder. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a representative sample of 926 persons aged over 65 years. A psychiatric interview was used to verify the presence of insomnia (DSM-IV-TR, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth ed., revised text). Interviews were conducted by health professionals to assess perceived health status (EuroQol-5D), health problems, and socio-demographic characteristics. Results: The prevalence of primary insomnia was 8.9% (95% CI: 7.1-11.0), that of insomnia associated with another mental disorder was 9.3% (95% CI: 7.5-11.4) and that of insomnia secondary to medical illness was 7.0% (95% CI: 5.4-8.9). Patients with insomnia who used hypnotics/sedatives scored lower in self-reported health (57.6; 95% CI: 53.7-61.4), significantly lower (p<0.05) than participants with insomnia not taking these drugs (65.1; 95% CI: 53.7-61.4). The mean health status score in individuals without insomnia was 0.87 and was significantly lower (p<0.05) in persons with any type of insomnia: 0.80 in primary insomnia, 0.73 in insomnia secondary to a mental disorder and 0.76 in insomnia associated with medical illness. Conclusions: Health status was worse in older people with insomnia, whether primary, secondary to other mental illnesses or organic, and when the elderly patients consumed hypnotics/sedatives. Limitations were less severe in primary insomnia.

Keywords : Health status; Sleep disorders; Health of the elderly.

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