Sleep problems increase risk of disability
29 October 2010
One in 20 Australian adults experience insomnia, exposing them to a higher burden of disability and poorer quality of life, independent of other physical and psychiatric disorders, a study found.
Data from 8841 participants in the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Survey showed those with insomnia had a 45 per cent greater risk of disability, 94 per cent greater risk of poor quality of life and 45 per cent greater likelihood of hospital admission.
The data, reported at the Australasian Sleep Association annual conference (21-23 October 2010), also showed that insomnia was not significantly associated with the use of psychiatric medications. However, being older or female, or having pain, an ongoing physical condition or psychological distress were all independently associated with insomnia (Sleep Biol Rhythms 2010; 8 Suppl 1: A40).
Last Reviewed: 29 October 2010
- Bin YS, Marshall N, Glozier N. The burden of insomnia on individual functioning and healthcare consumption [abstract]. Abstracts of the Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting; Christchurch, NZ; 21-23 Oct 2010. Sleep Biol Rhythms 2010; 8 Suppl 1: A40. doi:10.1111/j.1479-8425.2010.00457_1.x. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/sbr.2010.8.issue-s1/issuetoc (accessed 29 Oct 2010).
