2003 SLEEP IN AMERICA POLL HIGHLIGHTS
More than one-half of all older adults (55-84) say they get seven or more hours of sleep throughout the week, and they get their sleep more consistently than their younger counterparts (18-54)2 who, NSF polls indicate, catch up on sleep on weekends.
Two-thirds of older adults (67%) report frequent sleep problems, however only a small fraction, one in eight, says those problems have been diagnosed.
- Insomnia is the most common sleep problem with about one half of older adults (48%) reporting they frequently experience at least one symptom.
The 2003 poll finds a direct correlation between the number of diagnosed medical conditions reported by America's older adults, and the quality of their sleep—the more medical conditions reported, the more sleep problems are likely to occur.
• Eight in ten of those with four or more medical conditions report a sleep problem compared to about one- half of those with no reported medical conditions (80% vs. 53%)
Sleep problems are reported by:
- 82% of those diagnosed with depression
- 81% who have suffered a stroke
- 76% being treated for heart disease
- 75% diagnosed with lung disease
- 72% being treated for diabetes or arthritis
- 71% of those diagnosed with hypertension
Poor sleep is also associated with bodily pain, excess weight and ambulatory limitations.
- More than three-quarters (77%) of those having frequent pain also report a sleep problem.
- Sleep problems are equally common among older adults who are classified as obese (77%) and are linked with two-thirds (64%) of those considered overweight.
- The majority of older people with ambulatory limitations are likely to report a sleep problem (84%) or to experience a symptom of insomnia (66%). (Ambulatory limitations are defined as difficulty or inability to walk one-half mile and/or walk up and down a flight of stairs without help).
About 15% of older adults report having daytime sleepiness that frequently interferes with daily activities. Those reporting daytime sleepiness are more likely to sleep less than six hours a night than those who do not experience this problem (21% vs. 12%).They are also more likely to:
- Experience symptoms of insomnia (73% vs. 42%)
- Report a sleep problem (85% vs. 62%)
