A study on assessment of sleep pattern and perceived stress among geriatric patients in Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata

Background: In addition to risk of developing different non-communicable diseases, chronic diseases, and disabilities with increases of age, elderly people are more likely to suffer from mental and psychological distress and sleep disturbances which are again very much related to other physical problems of elderly. However, these two issues are often neglected and also were not addressed by research work adequately. Aims and Objectives: In above backdrop, our present study was conducted to determine sleep pattern and perceived stress among elderly population and their relationship with sociodemographic parameters. Materials and Methods: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Geriatric Outpatient Department (OPD) of Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, from August to October 2022, among 161 geriatric OPD patients. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for eliciting sociodemographic information. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and perceived stress scale were used for assessing sleep quality and perceived stress of participants respectively. Data were analyzed in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 20). Results: About 41.2% participants suffered from poor sleep pattern. About 41.2% of geriatric participants had low level of stress and rest had moderate stress. Age and marital status were significantly associated with both sleep pattern and perceived stress. Socioeconomic status was related to sleep score, whereas perceived stress was associated with education of elderly participants. Conclusion: Poor quality of sleep and stress has an impact on other physical health problems of elderly such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Hence, awareness generation among general population and provision of adequate management in elderly health clinics regarding these two issues is required.