Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than 1% of people over 55 years of age. It is characterized by motor symptoms such as postural instability and increased risk of falls, and non-motor symptoms such as sleep disorders. Consequently, detailed evaluation and adequate management of these symptoms in this population, which is often underestimated, is extremely important.

To correlate sleep quality with balance and risk of falls in elderly with PD.

Cross-sectional study composed by 22 elderly individuals with PD. To assess sleep quality, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used. To assess the risk of falls, FES-I was used. Postural control was assessed using the force platform (also associated with the dual task using the Strop test). To analyze the correlations between the variables, the Spearman correlation test was performed, considering p <0,05.

In the evaluation of sleep quality (PSQI) vs balance, correlations were observed between the domains: sleep duration, sleep quality and medication use. Regarding the sleep duration domain, there was a significant negative correlation in the tandem open eyes (OE) positions in the variables: COP area (r = -468 P = .028), AP amplitude (r = -, 738 P = .000), ML amplitude (r = -, 527 P = .012), AP velocity (r = -, 588 P = .004) and ML speed (r = -, 444 P = .039), tandem closed eyes (CE) in the variable: AP amplitude (r = -, 545 P =, 009) and tandem of the variable: AP amplitude (r = -645 P =, 001) and ML velocity (r = -, 453 P =, 034). Compelling negative correlation was found in the tandem OE and tandem CE postures in the ML velocity variable, (r = -, 514 P =, 014 and r = -, 543 P =, 009) respectively. In the evaluation of excessive daytime sleepiness vs balance there was a significant negative correlation in tandem OE and tandem CE, in the velocity variable ML, (r = -, 514 P = .014 and r = -, 543 P = .009) respectively.

Sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness are negatively correlated with balance in elderly people with PD, since the performance of these individuals in the applied tests were worse. There was no significant correlation between the risk of falls and balance in these individuals.

This study contributed to the understanding of the relationship between sleep and balance, thus a holistic preventive evaluation and effective therapeutic measures continue to be extremely decisive when managing these symptoms, for improvement in the functional autonomy and social participation of this population.