EFFECTS OF SLEEP QUALITY, INCOME LEVEL AND COMORBID CONDITIONS ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN A TURKISH ELDERLY POPULATION: A MULTICENTRE STUDY

Introduction: Our aim is to investigate the effects of sleep quality, income level and comorbid conditions on Quality of Life in a Turkish elderly population. Materials and Method: This multicentric study was performed in seven districts. A total of 1030 patients older than 65 years of age who applied to the internal medicine and geriatrics outpatient clinics of study centres between January and December 2014 were included. All patients underwent the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Quality of Life Assessment (Short Form 36) tests viaface to face interview method. The demographic properties of patients were also recorded during this interview. Results: The mean Quality of Life subscale scores, except for vitality, were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in patients with poor sleep quality. When analysing the relationship between Quality of Life and multiple chronic diseases, it was observed that patients having multiple chronic diseases had significantly lowered scores in three subscales (physical functioning, mental health and bodily pain; p=0.04, p=0.04, p=0.01, respectively). There were significant differences between patients with high versus low income level with respect to the mean physical functioning, mental health and bodily pain subscales (p=0.01). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated an adverse effect of low sleep quality, multiple chronic disorders and low income level on Quality of Life.