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Chapter 19 - Sleep Disorders

from Section III - Care of the Elderly by Organ System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2022

By
Joseph M. Dzierzewski ,
Juan Carlos Rodríguez  and
Cathy Alessi
Edited by
Jan Busby-Whitehead ,
Samuel C. Durso ,
Christine Arenson ,
Rebecca Elon ,
Mary H. Palmer  and
William Reichel
Jan Busby-Whitehead
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Samuel C. Durso
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
Christine Arenson
Affiliation:
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
Rebecca Elon
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Mary H. Palmer
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
William Reichel
Affiliation:
Georgetown University Medical Center
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Summary

Sleep disorders are very prevalent in late life, though they are often unrecognized, underdiagnosed, and poorly treated. Epidemiological evidence suggests that over 50% of elderly people suffer from one of several different sleep disorders, with the most common sleep disorders being insomnia and sleep apnea. Both insomnia and sleep apnea carry many serious negative physical, mental, and social consequences. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment management for both insomnia and sleep apnea in older adults are reviewed. Diagnosis of insomnia in older adults is based on self-report, while sleep apnea diagnosis requires a sleep study. Treatment of insomnia in late life is guided by behavioral and cognitive principles, with the gold-standard treatment approach being cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT. Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is the recommended treatment approach for sleep apnea. Contextual factors that complicate the diagnosis and management of insomnia and sleep apnea in late life are reviewed with the aim of providing practical information for the medical professional working with older patients.

Keywords

insomniasleep apneaolder adultselderlydiagnosistreatment
Type
Chapter
Information
Reichel's Care of the Elderly
Clinical Aspects of Aging
 , pp. 235 - 244
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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