Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T13:12:22.424Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Prevalence of insomnia in Poland — results of the National Health Interview Survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2014

A. Kiejna*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Medical University, Wroclaw
B. Wojtyniak
Affiliation:
National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland
J. Rymaszewska
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Medical University, Wroclaw
J. Stokwiszewski
Affiliation:
National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland
*
Department of Psychiatry, Medical University, Pasteura 10, 50–367 Wroclaw, Poland. Tel: + 48 71 784 15 65; Fax: + 48 71 784 15 71; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Background:

Sleep disturbances are one of the most common underdiagnosed and undertreated health problems among the adult population.

Objectives:

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of sleeping problems and their relation to sociodemographic characteristics in the Polish population, based on the results of the National Health Interview Survey carried out by the Central Statistical Office in 1996.

Methods:

A stratified sampling scheme, involving two steps, was used. Standardized prevalence ratios (SPRs and their 95% confidence intervals) were calculated. Assessment of sleep-related problems was based on six questions. A representative Polish sample (47 924 non-institutionalized, adult respondents) was interviewed.

Results:

Nearly one-fourth of Polish inhabitants suffered from insomnia. The percentage was significantly higher among women (28.1%) than among men (18.1%). The prevalence of insomnia increased with age and was highest in divorced respondents. Respondents of both sexes with higher educational levels suffered from insomnia less often than individuals with lower levels of education. The problem of insomnia applies in a similar degree to inhabitants of both rural and urban regions. About one-twentieth of inhabitants of Poland experienced recent sleep deterioration related to problems. It was associated positively with age, female gender and lower education. About 20% of the population get up not rested in the morning, women significantly more often than men, urban residents more often than rural ones.

Conclusions:

Sleep-related problems are common and the results are comparable with those from other countries. The findings have important implications, such as the necessity of better education of the public community about the identification and possibilities of treatment of sleep disturbance.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 Blackwell Munksgaard

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Central Statistical Office. Health population status in Poland in 1996. Warsaw: Statistical Publication House, 1997. Google Scholar
Ancoli-Israel, S, Roth, T. Characteristics of insomnia in the United States: results of the 1991 National Foundation Survey, I. Sleep 1999;22 (Suppl. 2):S347S353.Google Scholar
Ohayon, MM, Caulet, M, Priest, RGet al. DSM-IV and ICSD-90 insomnia symptoms and sleep dissatisfaction. Br J Psychiatry 1997;171: 382388.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cirignotta, F, Mondini, S, Zucconi, Met al. Insomnia: an epidemiological survey. Clin Neuropharmacol 1985;8 (Suppl. 1):S49S54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ford, DE, Kamerow, DB. Epidemiologic study of sleep disturbances and psychiatric disorders. An opportunity for prevention? JAMA 1989;262: 14791484.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mellinger, GD, Balter, MB, Uhlenhuth, EH. Insomnia and its treatment. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1985;42: 225232.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hublin, C, Kaprio, J, Partinen, Met al. Daytime sleepiness in an adult, Finnish population. J Intern Med 1996;239: 417423.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Husby, R, Lingjaerde, O. Prevalence of reported sleeplessness in Northern Norway in relation to sex, age and season. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1990;81: 542547.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klink, ME, Quan, SF, Kaltenborn, WTet al. Risk factors associated with complaints of insomnia in a general adult population. Influence of previous complaints of insomnia. Arch Intern Med 1992;152: 16341637.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, X, Uchiyama, M, Kim, Ket al. Sleep loss and daytime sleepiness in the general adult population of Japan. Psychiatry Res 2000;93: 111.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Szelenberger, W, Skalski, M. Epidemiology of sleeping disturbances in Poland — preliminary report. In: Nowicki, Z, Szelenberger, W, eds. Sleep disturbances, diagnostics and therapy. Cracow: Polish Psychiatry Library, 1999. Google Scholar
Weyerer, S, Dilling, H. Prevalence and treatment of insomnia in the community: results from the upper Bavarian field study. Sleep 1991;14: 392398.Google ScholarPubMed
Kahn, HA, Sempos, CT. Statistical methods in epidemiology. Monographs in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Vol. 12. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. Google Scholar
Ohayon, M. Epidemiological study on insomnia in the general population. Sleep 1996;19 (Suppl. 3):S7S15.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schmeiser-Rieder, A, Kapfhammer, G, Bolitschek, J. Self reported prevalence and treatment of sleep disorders in Austria. J Epid Comm Health 1995;49: 645646. CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Karacan, I, Thornby, JI, Anch, Met al. Prevalence of sleep disturbance in a primarily urban Florida county. Soc Sci Med 1976;10: 239244.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zeitholfer, J, Rieder, A, Kapfhammar, Get al. Epidemiology of sleep disorders in Austria. Wien Klin Wochenschr 1994;106: 8688.Google Scholar
Quera-Salva, MA, Orluc, A, Goldenberg, Fet al. Insomnia and use of hypnotics: study of a French population. Sleep 1991;14: 386391.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Caskadon, MA, Acebo, C, Wolfson, Aet al. REM sleep on MLSTS in high school students is related to circadian phase. J Sleep Res 1997;26: 705. Google Scholar
Wetter, DN, Young, TB. The relation between cigarette smoking and sleep disturbance. Prev Med 1994;23: 328334.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed