Epidemiology and burden of chronic insomnia disorder in Europe: an analysis of the 2020 National Health and Wellness Survey

François-Xavier Chalet*, Emiliano Albanese, Carlos Egea Santaolalla, Jason G. Ellis, Luigi Ferini-Strambi, Anna Heidbreder, Damien Léger, Kushal Modi, Charles M. Morin, Abisola Olopoenia

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Introduction
Chronic insomnia disorder (CID) is considered a significant worldwide public health concern; however, its exact burden is unknown. We estimate its prevalence across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, and assess the economic and humanistic burden for a broader insomnia population.

Methods
This retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study used 2020 National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS) data. Patients reporting insomnia were characterized to define CID. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity, and healthcare resource use (HCRU) outcomes were assessed in four cohorts according to insomnia diagnosis and treatment status and examined using multivariable analyses according to Insomnia Severity Index categories.

Results
Among 62,319 respondents, 9,035 (21.2%) reported experiencing insomnia over the previous 12 months. CID prevalence rates were 5.5% to 6.7% across the five countries and 6.0% overall. HRQoL outcomes were persistently poorer in cohorts of patients diagnosed with insomnia than those with undiagnosed insomnia. Undiagnosed and treated insomnia patients reported the highest work presenteeism and total work productivity impairment and the highest number of emergency room and hospitalization visits than patients with insomnia (either treated or untreated). After adjusting for covariates, patients with severe insomnia reported significantly worse EQ-5D-5L utility scores, higher absenteeism and presenteeism rates, and more healthcare provider visits over the past 6 months than patients without insomnia (all p < 0.01).

Conclusions
Our prevalence rates for CID align with published literature. A diagnosis of insomnia, use of sleep medications, and severity of insomnia are associated with poor quality of life, loss of work productivity, and higher HCRU, confirming the high unmet need and substantial humanistic and economic burden of CID.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1308-1319
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Medical Economics
Volume27
Issue number1
Early online date3 Oct 2024
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 3 Oct 2024

Keywords

  • Economic burden
  • healthcare resource use
  • health-related quality of life
  • humanistic burden
  • insomnia
  • National Health and Wellness Survey
  • National survey

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