title: Circadian-related sleep disorders and sleep medication use in the New Zealand blind population: an observational prevalence survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of self-reported circadian-related sleep disorders, sleep medication and melatonin use in the New Zealand blind population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A telephone survey incorporating 62 questions on sleep habits and medication together with validated questionnaires on sleep quality, chronotype and seasonality.
  
  
  METHODS
  PARTICIPANTS WERE GROUPED INTO: (i) 157 with reduced conscious perception of light (RLP); (ii) 156 visually impaired with no reduction in light perception (LP) matched for age, sex and socioeconomic status, and (iii) 156 matched fully-sighted controls (FS). SLEEP HABITS AND DISTURBANCES: The incidence of sleep disorders, daytime somnolence, insomnia and sleep timing problems was significantly higher in RLP and LP compared to the FS controls (p<0.001). The RLP group had the highest incidence (55%) of sleep timing problems, and 26% showed drifting sleep patterns (vs. 4% FS). Odds ratios for unconventional sleep timing were 2.41 (RLP) and 1.63 (LP) compared to FS controls. For drifting sleep patterns, they were 7.3 (RLP) and 6.0 (LP). MEDICATION USE: Zopiclone was the most frequently prescribed sleep medication. Melatonin was used by only 4% in the RLP group and 2% in the LP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extrapolations from the current study suggest that 3,000 blind and visually impaired New Zealanders may suffer from circadian-related sleep problems, and that of these, fewer than 15% have been prescribed melatonin. This may represent a therapeutic gap in the treatment of circadian-related sleep disorders in New Zealand, findings that may generalize to other countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. G.warman@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Guy R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Warman
authors.forename: Matthew D M
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pawley
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cheeseman
authors.forename: Antonio T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arendt
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wirz-Justice
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult