Poor sleep quality correlated negatively with physical activity level and nutritional status in older adults living in nursing homes

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Poor sleep quality is one of the common geriatric syndromes increasing the risk of chronic fatigue, dementia and falls among older people. Regular physical activity, a healthy diet and lower experience of stress are considered effective approaches to improve sleep quality. This study was conducted to examine the association between sleep quality with physical activity level, nutrition and stress status among Iranian elderly people living in nursing homes in Tehran. Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional in which examined the risk factors associated with poor sleep quality in older adults. Questionnaires were applied by interviewers to screen and assess sleep quality, physical activity levels, malnutrition and stress status via PSQI PASE, MNA and DASS-21 respectively. Results: Poor sleepers exhibited lower physical activity level (p <0.05), undernutrition (p <0.01) status and higher stress level (p <0.05). After controlling age and BMI confounders, partial correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between physical activity level with sleep quality score (r=-0.217, p <0.05), and its domains; subjective (r=-0.316, p <0.01), latency (r=-0.416, p <0.01) and disturbance (r=-0.208, p <0.05) scores. Also, there was a significant negative correlation between malnutrition score with sleep quality score (r=-0.232, p <0.01), and its subjective (r=-0.298, p <0.01), disturbance (r=-0.254, p <0.01) and medication (r=-0.190, p <0.05) domain scores. Furthermore, stress level was significantly correlated with sleep quality score (r=0.216, p <0.05) and following domain; sleep (r=0.196, p <0.05), efficiency (r=0.216, p <0.05) and disturbance. (r=0.235, p <0.05). Conclusion: Taken together, our data showed that regular physical activity, nutritional and stress status are likely important mediating factors influencing the sleep quality of elderly people.