Hypnotic consumption in the Portuguese population: data from the National Health Survey 1998-1999.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence and factors related to hypnotic intake in Portugal.


METHODS
Data from the National Health Survey conducted in 1998-1999 in a representative sample of 39 640 subjects aged > 18 years. Subjects were asked if they took hypnotics, for how long and also for how many days they had taken them the previous 2 weeks.


RESULTS
Overall, 13% of subjects reported taking hypnotics, and this frequency was higher for women (19%) than for men (7.4%, p < 0.001) and increased from 1.5% among age group [18-25[ to 26.2% among subjects aged > 75 years (p < 0.001). In both genders, the Lisbon region had the higher prevalence (15.4%) and Algarve the lowest (10%, p < 0.001); also ex-smokers the highest (15.4%), and current smokers the lowest prevalence (6.8%, p < 0.001). Women took hypnotics continuously during the previous 2 weeks more frequently than men (75 vs. 70%, p < 0.001), and the main reason for intake also differed between genders (p < 0.001). Finally, 69% of the subjects reported taking hypnotics for more than 3 years, and this prevalence was higher in women (71.6%) than in men (62.0%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed hypnotic intake to be positively related with age and inversely related with a sedentary lifestyle in both genders, and positively related with smoking and negatively related with obesity in men.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant percentage of the Portuguese population takes hypnotics in an almost continuous manner, and the intake is related to gender, age, obesity, and physical activity status.
Marques-Vidal
Pedro
P
Centro de Nutrição e Metabolismo, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Egas Moniz, Lisboa, Portugal. mvidal@fm.ul.pt
Dias
Carlos Matias
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives