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Nightmares in Relation to Health, Sleep and Somatic Symptoms in the Elderly
Ragnar Asplund M.D., Ph.D
Sleep complaints and different sleep symptoms are common in elderly persons and
increase in parallel with impairment of somatic and mental health and with numerous
somatic symptoms.Nightmares are associated with profound sleep disturbances.The
present questionnaire survey was undertaken to assess the relationship between
occurrence of nightmares and three potentially sleep-disturbing somatic symptoms,
namely musculo-skeletal pain,restless legs and muscle cramps in the legs in a large
group of elderly persons.The study comprised 6,103 subjects (39.5%men).The ages
(mean ±standard deviation)of the male and female participants were 73.0 ±6.0 and
72.6 ±6.7 years,respectively.Frequently occurring nightmares were reported by 9.0 %
of the men and 11.9 %of the women (p<0.05).Among men,frequent nightmares
were reported 4.1 (2.1-7.9)times more often by those who experienced such pain very
seldom or never,and this figure among women was 5.0 (2.0-8.5)times.
Corresponding odds ratios in men and women were 6.1 (2.1-17.3)and 6.1 (3.3-11.3),
respectively,and regarding muscle cramps in the legs 9.5 (4.1-22.1)and 6.5 (3.6-11.9),
respectively.It is concluded that the occurrence of nightmares in the elderly is increased
by musculo-skeletal pain,restless legs and muscle cramps in the legs.(Sleep and
Hypnosis 2003;5(4):175-181)
| Keywords: elderly, muscle cramps, musculo-skeletal pain, nightmares, restless legs, sleep, sleep medication |
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