[Prevalence of insomnia and characteristic of patients with insomnia in a health area of Majorca (Spain)].

OBJECTIVES

To estimate insomnia prevalence as well as habits comorbidity, sleep quality of insomnia patients.

DESIGN

Cross sectional descriptive study.

SETTING

Calvia health center (Majorca, Spain).

PARTICIPANTS

We included subjects registered in a Health Center (> 2 years) of 18-80 years old.

METHODS

Firstly, they were interviewed by telephone in order to identify persons with insomnia using the Insomnia Severity Index. Afterward, subjects with insomnia were interviewed in the health center in order to collect the data.

RESULTS

From a simple of 1,563 persons, we contacted 591 and 467 participated. Insomnia prevalence was 21.1% (IC 95% 17.38-25.01) and 6.9% (IC 95% 4.45-9.25) clinical insomnia. It was significantly more frequent in women, widow, divorced, retired and unemployed. Two in three presented obesity or overweight, 37% chronic pain, 21.1% depression and 37.9% anxiety. Half of the patients with insomnia referred a negative impact on daily activities and difficulties to maintain enthusiasm. Moreover, 41.1% declared to take pharmacological treatment for sleep usually. The more common therapeutic measures for insomnia were sleep hygiene and benzodiazepines; while cognitive-behavioral therapies were rarely used.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of insomnia in our health area is similar to those described in population based studies. The presence of some prejudicial habits for sleep quality as well as comorbidities could facilitate insomnia to become a chronic illness. Then, management of insomnia should be considered in a patient more general context. Pharmacological treatment is still in the first line and effective non pharmacological treatment is still a rare option.