Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2021 , Vol 24, Issue 3
SLEEP QUALITY IN PATIENTS OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Ayşe KARAOĞULLARINDAN1, Sanem Okşan ERKAN1, Birgül TUHANİOĞLU1, Gökhan KURAN1, Orhan GÖRGÜLÜ1
1Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Clinic, Adana, Turkey DOI : 10.31086/tjgeri.2021.235 Introduction: While Covid-19 affects people of all ages, elderly patients are at the highest risk. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused sleep disorders and mental health problems as well as physical symptoms.

Materials and Methods: A total of 142 patients, 71 Covid-19 patients hospitalized in the quarantine service and 71 non-covid, were included in the study. Patients were divided into groups of hospitalized in the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards and by age (under 65 and over). The Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index was used to assess sleep quality, the Beck Depression Index to measure the level of depressive symptoms, and the Beck Anxiety Index to measure the level of anxiety symptoms.

Results: The sleep quality of those hospitalized in the COVID-19 ward was worse, and their anxiety and depression symptom scores were higher (p = 0.003, p = 0.011, and p = 0.018). The sleep quality of patients over 65 years of age was significantly worse than that of patients under 65 years of age (p <0.001), and anxiety and depression symptom scores of patients over 65 years of age were significantly higher than those of patients under 65 years of age (p <0.01, p <0.01)

Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety and depression symptoms were observed and sleep quality was deteriorated in patients aged >65 years who were placed in quarantine. Hence, this group of patients should be closely monitored in terms of psychological disorders and sleep disorders. If necessary, psychological support and medical treatment should be provided. Keywords : Covid-19; Pandemic; Anxiety; Depression; Sleep; Geriatrics