title: Symptom-Based Prevalence of Sleep Disorders in an Adult Primary Care Population.
abstract: The prevalence of sleep disorders in a primary care physician practice in Moscow, Idaho, was studied between February 7, 1997, and February 6, 1998. This primary care clinic visit population was surveyed for this 1-year period. Every patient above the age of 18 years who visited the Moscow Clinic in this time period was either approached by our on-site researcher during the patient's clinic visit or contacted via mail. Out of a total of 1249 adult patients who met with our on-site researcher during their clinic visit, 962 (77.0%) completed questionnaires and were interviewed for symptoms of sleep disorders. An additional 292 patients completed mailed questionnaires, resulting in a total of 1254 participants in the study. The percentages of patients in our sample reporting symptoms of the following sleep disorders were insomnia (32.3%), obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (23.6%), and restless legs syndrome (29.3%). This study demonstrates the need for heightened awareness and subsequent diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in the primary care population.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University Center of Excellence for Sleep Disorders, California.
authors.forename: Clete A.
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kushida
authors.forename: Deborah A.
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: Richard D.
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: John H.
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Grauke
authors.forename: J. B.
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Britzmann
authors.forename: Pamela R.
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hyde
authors.forename: William C.
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Dement