Sleep Disturbance in Hospitalized Patients with Dementia

Abstract

Background : Sleep disturbance is commonly accompanied by patient with dementia. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of sleep disturbance in dementia patients of geriatric hospital and relationship of between sleep disturbance and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Method : The one hundred forty-fourpatients with dementia were included in this study. Seventy-nine patients had sleep disturbances. Patients with dementia met National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke-the Alzheimer's disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria or National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Association International pour la recherche et l'Enseignement en Neuroscience (NINDS-AIREN) criteria. Sleep disturbance was assessed by subscale of Neuropsychological Inventory (NPI). The participants were assessed by Korean Version of Mini-Mental State Exam, Clinical DementiaRating, Short Form of Samsung Dementia Questionnaires, Burden interview, NPI. Results: There was no significant differences in the demographic factors and cognitive function between two groups. The patients with sleep disturbance had more neuropsychiatric symptoms. Apathy and irritability was significantly correlated with sleep disturbance. Sleep disturbance was mediated by apathy and irritability.Conclusion : Apathy and irritability played a role as a mediator of sleep disturbance in dementia.