Sleep complaints among Brazilian senior citizens from municipalities with different human development indices.

PURPOSE To compare the occurrence of sleep complaints among senior citizens resident in the local communities of two municipalities with differing Human Development Indices (HDIs): Campinas, State of São Paulo (IDH = 0.852) and Parnaíba, State of Piauí (IDH = 0.674). METHOD Descriptive study as part of the multicentric project going by the name of Frailty among Brazilian Senior Citizens (Fragilidade em Idosos Brasileiros--FIBRA). A total of 988 senior citizens were analysed, making use of a social and demographic questionnaire about sleep problems (Nottingham Health Profile); questions about naps (Minnesota Leisure Activity Questionnaire). The Chi-Square and Mann-Whitney tests were used in the analysis of the data, at a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). RESULTS The chronologically advantaged individuals in Parnaíba showed a higher incidence of sleep complaints when compared to the senior citizens of Campinas. There was a significant association between municipality and the following variables: number of sleep complaints, non-restoring sleep, precocious awakening, difficulty in falling and staying asleep. CONCLUSION The nursing staff must intervene in favour of the promotion of health with actions that either reduce or prevent these sleep-related problems.