Association of health related quality of life domains with daytime sleepiness among elderly recipients of long-term services and supports.

This was a cross-sectional secondary analysis, so it cannot show that symptoms, depression, or setting caused daytime sleepiness. Daytime sleepiness was based on self-reported Epworth scores; no sleep diary, actigraphy, or polysomnography was collected. Many participants had mild to moderate cognitive impairment, and the scale may underestimate sleepiness in that group, although a sensitivity analysis in that subgroup gave similar estimates. Boredom, napping frequency, and more detailed executive function were not captured. Race and ethnicity were correlated with service setting and were not included in the model, so setting may carry other social or environmental differences. The sample excluded people with severe cognitive impairment or terminal illness, so it does not describe all older adults needing long-term services.

The supplied text lists NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research support. No author conflicts of interest are stated.

Do not read these associations as proof that moving someone out of a nursing home, reducing symptoms, or treating depression will reduce daytime sleepiness. This study measured who had sleepiness at one time point, not whether an intervention improved it.