Sleep Quality Associated With Motor Function Among Older Adult Survivors of Critical Illness.

Only 29 participants were analyzed, so the findings are preliminary. The study was cross-sectional and measured sleep and grip strength at one early post-ICU time point, so it cannot show that sleep duration caused weakness. Actigraphy measured rest-activity patterns, not full sleep stages that polysomnography would provide. Analyses were exploratory and included subgroup models, including a male-only model, so chance findings are possible. Participants were English-speaking, had no preexisting dementia diagnosis, were functionally independent before admission, and had been mechanically ventilated, so results may not apply to all older ICU survivors. Sleep was recorded for two nights within 24 to 48 hours after ICU discharge, so later sleep and function were not assessed. One enrolled subject was excluded after transfer back to ICU.

The authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Do not conclude that reducing sleep will improve strength. This study found a link between longer measured nighttime sleep and weaker grip strength in 29 older ICU survivors, not a cause-and-effect relationship.