Índice de qualidade do sono de pessoas idosas

Abstract

Background: The aging process triggers several body changes, including the sleep pattern. Sleep is one of the main factors responsible for repairing the body’s physiological activities. Poor quality and sleep negatively interferes with the body’s homeostasis, making it vulnerable and susceptible to the manifestation of various diseases. Aim: To verify the sleep quality index in elderly people. Method: The study included 30 elderly women who participate in activities of the Academic League of Gerontology in Speech Therapy (LAGEFON) at São Francisco de Assis Parish and the Integrated Center of Elderly Studies (NIETI), composing a convenience sample. Data collection was carried out in May 2023, through the application of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale, both inserted in an online form on the Google DOC platform. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee and Research with Human Beings of the Health Sciences Center (HCC) of the UFPB, under opinion number 2,731,989 and CAAE 87676418.0.000.5188. Results: The results showed that 63,3% of the sample had poor sleep quality and 30% showed signs of excessive daytime sleepiness, with no statistically significant relationship between the two. Conclusion: It is concluded that, although most elderly women have poor sleep quality, the subjective sleep assessment is discordant. It is understood that, although nocturnal and, consequently, daytime changes are present, many elderly people do not complain about them, possibly understanding them as part of the senescence process. Therefore, there is an urgent need for trained professionals in the field of public health, who know how to identify complaints related to sleep in elderly patients and direct the best for treatment, as well as the dissemination of educational materials aimed at sleep hygiene.