Prevalence and Associated Factors of Cognitive Impairment and Poor Sleep Quality among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Northern Thailand

Early detection of cognitive impairment and poor sleep quality are necessary to prevent dementia and the improve the quality of life further. This study aimed to investigate the cognitive impairment and poor sleep quality in the community-dwelling older adults and its association with socio-demographic and health characteristics.

A cross-sectional study of 1,180 people in Northern Thailand aged 60 years and above was conducted in 2017. Mental State Examination-Thai version (MSET10) was used to measure cognitive function while the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) assessed sleep quality. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze associations.

The prevalence of CI in older adults was 52.45% (95% CI: 49.64 - 55.42) which increased with age. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 44.15% (95% CI: 1.29-47.03). Age, illiteracy, hypertension, comorbidities of hypertension and diabetes, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, and depression were significantly associated with increased risk of CI, while being single, comorbidities of hypertension and diabetes, and depression were significantly associated with poor sleep quality.

The rate of CI and poor sleep quality in older adults was relatively high in Thailand. Early detection of CI and poor sleep quality and screening for all risk factors are important to improve in access to service, optimization of medical management, reduction in risk factors, and increased quality of life in older adults.