Abstract
BackgroundPopulation aging is a significant social problem in the twenty first century. Recent economic and social changes lead increasing number of elders to spend their lives in elderly homes. Institutionalized elders have to face many physical and psychological problems which negatively impact their quality of life. Geriatric depression (GD), catastrophizing pain (CP) and sleep disorders (SD) are some common problems among them.MethodsPresent study was designed to assess the prevalence of GD, CP and SD and their correlations in institutionalized elders. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in elderly homes (n = 20) in the Galle district of Sri Lanka enrolling 310 subjects. GD, CP and SD were assessed using validated Sinhala versions of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 for windows by using descriptive statistics, the Pearson’s chi-square test and Pearson’s bivariate correlation (p < 0.05).ResultsAmong the participants (response rate: 95.7%), 34.8% (n = 108) and 65.2% (n = 202) were males and females respectively. Age range of the subjects was 60–103 years with the mean age of 74.97 years (SD 8.852). Most of the study subjects (n = 234, 75.5%) had spent five or less than 5 years in elderly homes at the time of the study and 52.8% (n = 164) of them were unmarried. GD was present in 76.5% (95% CI: 71.7–81.2) of subjects and of them 44% had moderate to severe depression. PCS revealed that 29% (95% CI: 24.0–34.1) had CP. SD were identified in 55.5% (95% CI: 49.5–61.0) of elders and according to PSQI, 86% (95% CI: 82.3–90.0) had poor quality sleep. Positive correlations between GD and CP (r = 0.24, p < 0.01), GD and SD (r = 0.13, p = 0.02), CP and SD (r = 0.32, p < 0.01) were statistically significant.ConclusionsPrevalence of GD, CP and SD were significantly higher in this sample of institutionalized elders who were apparently healthy. Findings highlighted the importance of early screening of physical and psychological problems in institutionalized elders to assure better quality of life and to reduce the burden to health care system of the country.
Highlights
Population ageing is considered as one of the most significant social transformations of the twenty-first century [1]
Seventy percent of the subjects were previously employed and the period of stay in elderly home in the majority of the subjects (75.5%) was one to five years. When it was inquired about their perception about the services and facilities of elderly homes, 82% of them were satisfied about the services provided
Results of the present study found out important correlations between the study parameters and according to that there was a significant positive correlation between geriatric depression, its severity and the catastrophizing pain, a significant positive correlation between overall quality of sleep and chronic catastrophizing pain, a positive correlation between severity of depression and sleep disorders and a significant positive correlation between catastrophizing pain and sleep disorders
Summary
Population ageing is considered as one of the most significant social transformations of the twenty-first century [1]. According to WHO more than 20% of adults aged 60 years and over suffer from a mental and/or a neurological disorder [2] It is a well-known fact that institutionalized elders face so many financial, physical, emotional and psychological problems other than to the burden of living away from their family. Geriatric depression is one of the commonest mental problems in elderly population and institutionalization was considered as one of the most important risk factors for depression among older people. If it is not detected and treated, common subsyndromal depression among elders can lead to major depression and critical consequences. Geriatric depression (GD), catastrophizing pain (CP) and sleep disorders (SD) are some common problems among them
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