Sleep disordered breathing, insomnia, and health related quality of life -- a comparison between age and gender matched elderly with heart failure or without cardiovascular disease.

AIMS: The aims of this study are (I) to compare the prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and insomnia between elderly with heart failure (HF) and age and gender matched elderly without cardiovascular disease (CVD), and (II) to examine the association between HF, SDB and insomnia, as well as their impact on health related quality of life (Hr-QoL).

METHODS: Three hundred and thirty-one elderly (71-87 years) community-living individuals underwent sleep recordings and echocardiography. Questionnaires assessed insomnia and Hr-QoL. Comparisons were made between age and gender matched individuals with HF (n=36) and without CVD (n=36).

RESULTS: The HF group had higher mean apnoea-hypopnoea index (17.6 vs. 6.3, p<0.001). Moderate/severe SDB was found in 42% of those with HF vs. 8% in those without CVD (p=0.001). Those with HF had more difficulties maintaining sleep (DMS) (72% vs. 50%, p=0.05) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) (25% vs. 8%, p=0.05) and scored worse Hr-QoL in five of eight SF-36 domains. In regression analysis SDB had no association to Hr-QoL. DMS associated to the physical-, and non restorative sleep to the mental domain of Hr-QoL. SDB had no correlations to insomnia or EDS.

CONCLUSIONS: SDB, DMS and EDS are more common in elderly with HF. SDB is not an obvious cause for sleep complaints or poor Hr-QoL in elderly.