Identifying adverse outcomes from insufficient sleep in the hospitalized non-critical older adult population

On average, humans spend one-third of their lives fulfilling basic sleep needs (Cirelli, 2019). Theories suggest that sleep improves immune responses, reduces energy, allows for the recuperation of cognitive functions, and removal of waste; however, the exact function is unknown (Zielinski, McKenna & McCarley, 2016). Research has revealed when sleep is chronically disrupted the individual experiences a reduction in their quality of life, an increased risk for mortality as well as cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events (Chattu, Sakhamuri, Kumar, Spence BaHammam & Pandi-Perumal, 2018). Ever changing variables that affect sleep in the hospital setting have created a need to ask the question, what happens when such disruptions occur in an environment like the hospital? Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to identify adverse outcomes associated with insufficient sleep experienced by hospitalized non-critical older adults in literature.