Relationship Between Sleep Quality and Falls Among Elderly People in Amirkola, Northern of Iran

Background: Aging is considered a biological, natural, and inevitable phenomenon that is associated with common problems of sleep quality and falls. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sleep quality and falls among the elders of Amirkola. Methods: In this case-control study, ۲۵۰ elders, who were exposed to the falling, and ۵۰۰ people without the previous falling were randomly selected during ۲۰۱۶-۲۰۱۷. The data were collected according to demographic and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires. Results: There was a significant relationship between sleep quality and falling, while no significant relationship was found between demographic characteristics (e.g., gender, marital situation, age, educational level, occupation, and satisfaction of income) and falling. The mean of chronic diseases was ۳.۶۵ ± ۲.۲۹ and ۴.۳۸ ± ۲.۷۵ in control and case groups, respectively (P = ۰.۰۰۰۱). A significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the number of falls during the last ۱۲ months (P = ۰.۰۰۰۱). There was a significant positive correlation between the score of poor sleep quality and the number of chronic diseases (P = ۰.۰۰۱, r = ۰.۳۵۲), the number of falls during the last ۱۲ months (P = ۰.۰۰۱, r = ۰.۱۳۷), and the number of falling during the last ۱۲ months with the number of chronic diseases (P = ۰.۰۰۱, r = ۰.۲۰۸). There was a significant negative correlation between poor quality sleep with the score of physical activity (P = ۰.۰۰۱, r = -۰.۱۶۶) and the number of chronic diseases with the physical activity score (P = ۰.۰۰۱, r = -۰.۲۵۹). After adjusting the other variables, the number of chronic diseases (P = ۰.۰۰۲, OR = ۱.۱۱۴) and history of smoking (P = ۰.۰۱۸, OR = ۱.۶۷۸) were the most effective factors of falling. Finally, a direct positive correlation was observed between the total scores of sleep quality and falling in terms of gender in the older woman of Amirkola (P = ۰.۰۰۱, OR = ۲.۰۸۰). Conclusion: Awareness of the factors of falls can help develop prevention strategies and appropriate health services.

Keywords:

Accidental falls , Sleep , Aged , Elderly