Health

People with sleep disorders bear significantly higher medical costs

Individuals affected by sleep disorders accumulated about $ 7,000 more overall annual health care costs than individuals without sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders are associated with significantly higher healthcare utilization, with an additional $ 94.9 billion annually in the U.S. healthcare system. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine..

Researchers found that people with sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and insomnia, nearly doubled the number of medical visits and prescriptions compared to similar people without these conditions. discovered. In addition, affected patients are also more likely to visit the emergency department and have more co-existing medical conditions.

This study examined the difference in medical costs between patients with and without a diagnosis of sleep disorders, as determined by the ICD-10 diagnostic code. Researchers used data from the 2018 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a nationally representative survey of more than 22,000 Americans conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Department of Medical Research and Quality.

They found that 5.6% of respondents had at least one sleep disorder. That’s an estimated 13.6 million US adults. This can be significantly underestimated, as insomnia alone is thought to affect 10% to 20% of the population, according to the authors.

Individuals affected by sleep disorders have an overall annual cost of approximately $ 7,000 more than individuals without sleep disorders, resulting in an annual cost increase of approximately 60%. This represents an estimated $ 94.9 billion in annual health care costs due to sleep disorders.

According to the authors of the study, sleep disorders can have many adverse health effects. People with certain sleep disorders experience diminished daytime function associated with drowsiness, mental fog, and an increased risk of car accidents.

Obstructive sleep apnea, one of the most common sleep disorders, can increase the risk of neurocognitive problems if left untreated, such as poor concentration and mood disorders. It can also cause cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and arrhythmias.

“Fortunately, studies have shown that treating certain sleep disorders can effectively reduce the use and cost of healthcare,” Dr. Phillip Huyett said in a press release. “Therefore, sleep problems should not be ignored. Greater awareness of sleep disorders and early referral to sleep professionals are essential. Your sleep is important, and if you have problems with your sleep, Ask for help with it. “

reference

Sleep disorders aggregate $ 94.9 billion in medical costs each year [news release].. EurekAlert; May 7, 2021. Accessed on May 10, 2021. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-05/meae-sdt050721.php

ExBulletin

People with sleep disorders bear significantly higher medical costs