Effect of General Anesthesia vs Regional Anesthesia on Sleep Disturbance in Elderly Patients After Discharge from the Hospital for 3 Months

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of anesthetic methods on the occurrence of postoperative sleep disorders in elderly patients following their discharge from the hospital for 3 months.

Patients and methods: This retrospective observational cohort study included elderly patients aged >60 years who had undergone general and regional anesthesia from 1 June 2023 to 31 December 2023. These patients were then assessed for sleep by telephone callback using the Athens Insomnia Scale after discharge from the hospital three months later. The duration of pain and sleep disturbance experienced by patients following discharge was also recorded.

Results: Following propensity score matching, 308 individuals were included in the study (154 in the GA group and 154 in the RA group). Compared with general anesthesia (11.7%), regional anesthesia (5.2%) reduced the prevalence of sleep disorders in elderly patients after discharge from the hospital. However, the duration of sleep disturbance and pain exhibited no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.818; p=0.211).

Conclusion: Regional anesthesia was associated with a reduction in the incidence of sleep disorders in elderly patients after discharge from the hospital for 3 months.