title: Residual Effects of Sleep Medications Are Commonly Reported and Associated with Impaired Patient-Reported Outcomes among Insomnia Patients in the United States.
abstract: Study Objective. To measure the association of symptoms attributed to residual effects of sleep medication (e.g., drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, and impaired memory) on self-reported functioning and satisfaction with these medications. Methods. Individuals using prescription medications for insomnia were invited to complete an Internet-based survey. Respondents were compared according to the presence of self-reported residual effects; relationships between severity of these effects and outcomes were modeled using regression. Measures included the Brief Insomnia Questionnaire, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, and SATMED-Q. Subgroup analyses were conducted with patients aged ≥65 years. Approximately 80% reported experiencing ≥1 residual effect. The severity of residual effects was associated with increased residual effect-related work impairment, including absenteeism (RR = 1.46, p < 0.001), presenteeism (RR = 1.12, p < 0.001), overall work impairment (RR = 1.13, p < 0.001), and nonwork activity impairment (RR = 1.11, p < 0.001). More severe residual symptoms were also associated with increased difficulty in home management (Beta = .31, p < 0.001), ability to work (Beta = .31, p < 0.001), social relationships, (Beta = .32, p < 0.001), close personal relationships (Beta = .30, p < 0.001), and lower medication satisfaction (Beta = -.37, p < 0.001). Conclusions. Individuals using medications for insomnia commonly experience symptoms considered as residual effects, and these symptoms are associated with greater interference of sleep-related problems at work, at home, and with social relationships.
authors.affiliation: Merck & Co., Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.affiliation: Kantar Health, 20121 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vietri