高齢者の睡眠に及ぼす寝床内暖房器具の影響

Influences of the Heating Implements in Bed on Sleep Quality in Elderly Men

　本研究は睡眠中に電気敷毛布や電気あんかを使用することが，終夜睡眠にどのような影響を及ぼすかを比較検討することを目的に，健康な70代の男性4名を対象とする実験を行ない，生活背景との関連から高齢者の睡眠環境に対する援助の方向性を探ろうとしたものである。その結果，1）深部温やSWS出現率から，電気敷毛布より電気あんかの方が，質のよい睡眠が得られると推察された。2）電気敷毛布は入眠を容易にする傾向があり，末梢温の低い人や冬季の睡眠導入，入眠困難を訴える高齢者に使用することにより，質の良い睡眠が得られる可能性がある。3）運動量の少ない被験者の深部温，表面温，SWS出現率は，週3日以上運動をしている被験者のデータの様相が異なり，睡眠の質の低さが伺われた。運動を含む日常生活習慣が両者の違いの一つの要因と推察される。これらを踏まえて睡眠環境を整えることが，適切な援助につながると考える。

　The purpose of this study is to investigate the influences of the electric blanket and the electric foot warmer conditions on the quality of sleep in healthy elderly men. Four elderly men volunteers aged 71 to 75 years served as subjects for this study. Each subject participated on the two occasions: 1) with the electric blanket, and 2) with the electric foot warmer. The body core and skin surface temperatures and sleep polygraph were measured during each night. The main results were as follows:

　1. The decline in body core temperature and the percent of slow wave sleep (% SWS) with the electric foot warmer condition were greater than with the electric blanket condition.

　2. The sleep onset latency with the electric blanket condition was shorter than with electric foot warmer condition.

　3. The % SWS in the subjects with habitual exercise training in the life style was high relatively in comparison with non-training.

　These results suggest that sleep condition with electric foot warmer is better than with electric blanket for elderly. It was also thought that use of electric blanket to shorten the sleep onset latency might be appropriate for elderly with low surface temperature. Our data suggests that thermal management of sleep environment suited to the individual difference in the physical condition and the life style may be useful in improving sleep quality.