Prevalence of common sleep disorders in a middle-aged community sample

Nigel McArdle; Amy C Reynolds; David Hillman; Eric Moses; Kath Maddison; Phillip Melton; Peter Eastwood

doi:10.5664/jcsm.9886

Prevalence of common sleep disorders in a middle-aged community sample

J Clin Sleep Med. 2022 Jun 1;18(6):1503-1514. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.9886.

Authors

Nigel McArdle^{1

2}, Amy C Reynolds³, David Hillman^{1

2}, Eric Moses^{4

5}, Kath Maddison^{1

2}, Phillip Melton^{4

6}, Peter Eastwood³

Affiliations

¹ University of Western Australia, School of Health Sciences, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
² West Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
³ Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (Sleep Health), College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia.
⁴ Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
⁵ School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
⁶ School of Global and Population Health, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.

Abstract

Study objectives: There is a paucity of contemporary prevalence estimates for common sleep disorders of insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and restless legs syndrome. We aimed to assess the prevalence of clinically significant common sleep disorders in a middle-aged community sample.

Methods: Parents of participants in the community-based Raine Study underwent assessments between 2015 and 2017, including comprehensive questionnaires, anthropometric measures, and in-laboratory polysomnography. Clinically significant sleep disorders were defined as chronic insomnia using the Pittsburgh Sleep Symptom Questionnaire-Insomnia with duration criterion ≥ 3 months; OSA as apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5 events/h with excessive sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale ≥ 11) or apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 15 events/h (even in the absence of symptoms); restless legs syndrome when participants endorsed the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group diagnostic criteria (2003) with symptoms ≥ 5 times/month involving moderate-severe distress.

Results: At least 1 sleep-related assessment was completed by 1,005 (female = 586, 58.3%) middle-aged (45-65 years) participants, 72.5% of eligible Raine Study parents. The respective prevalences for clinically significant disease in females and males were as follows: OSA, 24.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.5-27.7) and 47.3% (95% CI: 42.2-53.4); insomnia, 15.8% (95% CI: 13.1-19.0) and 9.3% (95% CI: 6.8-12.4); restless legs syndrome, 3.7% (95% CI: 2.4-5.4) and 2.2% (95% CI: 1.1-3.9). At least 1 sleep disorder was present in 42.9% of those with complete data on all assessments (n = 895).

Conclusions: Common sleep disorders are highly prevalent, to a clinically important extent, in an Australian community sample of middle-aged adults. Contemporary OSA prevalence is notably higher than previously reported and further work is needed to determine the communal impact of OSA.

Citation: McArdle N, Reynolds AC, Hillman D, et al. Prevalence of common sleep disorders in a middle-aged community sample. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(6):1503-1514.

Keywords: community prevalence; insomnia; obstructive sleep apnea; restless legs syndrome.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Australia / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Restless Legs Syndrome* / epidemiology
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* / epidemiology
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* / epidemiology
Sleep Wake Disorders* / epidemiology
Sleepiness
Surveys and Questionnaires