[Epidemiology of sleep disturbances].
Epidemiological studies indicate that sleep disturbances in general population are highly frequent. It is estimated that approximately 40 million people in the USA has some kind of problem with sleep. The most frequent sleep complaint is insomnia whose prevalence is around 50% some time in the life. Only a small part of this population refer their sleep problems to the medical doctor with the consequence that only a minority is adequately diagnosed and treated. Sleep problems may appear at any age, and the epidemiological studies indicate the increase of specific prevalence with advancing age, with a special increase in the adults. It is estimated that the prevalence of sleep problems in childhood and adolescence is present in 25-40%. Some of the problems are more frequent in the female population, although not as a rule. The best example for this is the observed prevalence of sleep apnea which is present in 24% of male and only 9% of female population. Sleep problems are often associated with other diseases such as psychiatric or kidney diseases (patients on hemodialysis). However, their frequency may increase in physiologic conditions such as pregnancy. Overall characteristic of sleep diseases is that they may compromise daily functioning by causing deficits in memory, decrease in concentration, depressive mood, irritability, decreased libido or erectile dysfunction, having as a consequence decrease in the quality of life.
Pekmezović
Tatjana
T
D006801:Humans; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology