Relationship between sleep quality and postural balance in community-dwelling older persons: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objetive: To determine the relationship between sleep quality and postural balance in older adults living in the community. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was used. We recruited 53 subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was administered, and a static balance test was performed through a computerized posturography to evaluate the postural balance. Results: Fifty-three subjects 60 to 80 years old (M = 70.13; standard deviation = 6.06) were evaluated; 69.8% were women and 30.2% were men. The correlation test found a statistically significant and positive relationship, but moderate (p = 0.002; r = 0.417) between total displacement and sleep quality in the Romberg open eyes test. The same happened with the total displacement in the Romberg close eyes test (p = 0.002, r = 0.445). Displacements were always greater in the anteroposterior plane, where a statistically significant and positive correlation with sleep quality was also found in all posturological tests. The correlation was moderate in all cases. Conclusion: There is a relationship between the quality of sleep measured and postural balance. However, this relationship is low to moderate, and the size of the effect must be considered before accepting the hypothesis.

Objetive: To determine the relationship between sleep quality and postural balance in older adults living in the community. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was used. We recruited 53 subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was administered, and a static balance test was performed through a computerized posturography to evaluate the postural balance. Results: Fifty-three subjects 60 to 80 years old (M = 70.13; standard deviation = 6.06) were evaluated; 69.8% were women and 30.2% were men. The correlation test found a statistically significant and positive relationship, but moderate (p = 0.002; r = 0.417) between total displacement and sleep quality in the Romberg open eyes test. The same happened with the total displacement in the Romberg close eyes test (p = 0.002, r = 0.445). Displacements were always greater in the anteroposterior plane, where a statistically significant and positive correlation with sleep quality was also found in all posturological tests. The correlation was moderate in all cases. Conclusion: There is a relationship between the quality of sleep measured and postural balance. However, this relationship is low to moderate, and the size of the effect must be considered before accepting the hypothesis.