Factores asociados a la somnolencia diurna en adultos mayores chilenos

Aim: To determine the prevalence of mild and excessive somnolence and the associated factors with thepresence of daytime sleepiness in the elderly. Methods: A total of 1780 independent individuals 60 years and olderof both sexes (70.9 ± 7.9 years old;females 62%), were included, of which 1704 of them completed all the information. All of them wereassessed using an Epworth sleepiness scale (ESE), an Pittsburgh sleep quality index, plus information ofcigarettes smoking, dinner time, and an anthropometric evaluation. An ESE score > 10 was considereddrowsiness and scores > 15 excessive or severe drowsiness. Results: Among the population under 80 years, 5.3% showed ESE score > 15 and 26.2% an ESE score > 10. Forover 80 years, the prevalence of sleepiness was 6.3% for an ESE score > 15 and 32.5% for an ESE score > 10. In the adjusted model, the factors associated with increased risk of sleepiness (ESE > 10) were age olderthan 80 years (OR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.14 to 2.19) and dinner after 21 hours (OR = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.68). By contrast, only age older than 80 years was independently associated with severe sleepiness (OR = 1.81;95% CI = 1.01 to 3.29). Conclusions: Meals after 21 hours and age above 80 years are associated with increased likelihood ofdaytime sleepiness. Instead, only older than 80 years is associated with severe daytime sleepiness.