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Sleep quality in residents of nursing homes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: The results of our pre-COVID studies on sleep quality (SQ) in older adults showed that SQ was impaired in 71% of residents of nursing homes (NH) and in 50% of community dwelling older adults of comparable age. During the COVID-19 pandemic older adults, and especially NH residents, have been at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, impairments in SQ and impairments in mental health due to physical distancing restrictions. The aim of the present study was to examine SQ in NH residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare it with the results of NH residents collected five years earlier. Method: The results of 202 residents of several NH in Zagreb (79% females, 69-97) collected in 2021 were analysed and compared to results of other 161 participants (80% females, 63-100 years) collected in 2016. Participants were ambulatory, without diagnosis of dementia, and the data was collected in NHs as part of larger studies. Participants answered the questionnaires with either a trained interviewer assistance (in 2016) or themselves with researchers’ control and assistance (in 2021). SQ was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). In both studies participants self- rated their subjective health in comparison to their peers, and answered different loneliness scales with two comparable items. Results: Total PSQI score was greater than 5 in 48% of NH residents in 2021, which was lower percentage than in 2016. Multivariate ANOVAs showed that participants in 2021 rated their health significantly poorer in comparison to their peers than participants in 2016(p < 0.001), and they reported more impairments in daytime functioning (p < 0.05). However, their SQ was generally less impaired (M[PSQI2021] = 6.77 vs. M[PSQI2016] = 8.26, p < 0.001), their sleep duration longer (p < 0.001) and sleep efficiency better than in participants in 2016 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The accelerated turnover due to COVID- 19 pandemic may have changed the characteristics of residents of long-term care setting who may perceive themselves as having poorer health but reporting generally better SQ. In analysing SQ in NH residents during the COVID-19 pandemic it is especially important to consider wider socio- cultural context. Disclosure: No

sleep quality ; older adults ; nursing home ; COVID-19 pandemic

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