Sleep Habits and Symptoms in Male Medical and Surgical Patients

A questionary survey of symptoms and sleep habits at home among 100 adult male medical and surgical patients showed that the duration of sleep at night was similar to that reported for the general population, decreasing with age from 20 to 50 years and increasing again after 60 years. The duration of daytime sleep increased with age. The degree of sleep disturbance in different patients was compared in terms of the total duration of sleep and the time spent lying awake in bed at night. Increasing age, ischaemic heart disease, and neurotic illness were the main factors associated with long-term disturbances.