![]() ![]() Anderson and colleagues found that a diagnosis of insomnia was associated with 26% higher costs at baseline and 46% higher costs at 12 months after diagnosis. One retrospective study aimed to better understand the direct healthcare costs of insomnia by analyzing claims from a large health plan. The direct costs of patients with untreated insomnia have been shown to be significantly higher when compared with those of patients without insomnia. 1 Estimating healthcare costs of untreated insomnia has been both difficult and varying due to contributing comorbid conditions, limited studies that differentiate primary versus comorbid insomnia, the significant percentage of patients who self-medicate, and difficulty in accurately quantifying indirect costs. 1 When evaluating the economic burden of insomnia, it is important to consider both direct costs (eg, office visits, medication costs, testing) as well as indirect costs, which result in lost resources (eg, absenteeism, presenteeism, work- and non-work-related accidents). Insomnia is defined by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) Clinical Practice Guidelines as a complaint of sleep associated with daytime consequences that are not attributable to environmental circumstances or inadequate opportunity to sleep. Managed care organizations must evaluate clinical considerations, including safety profiles and the negative impact of disease on patients’ QOL, to develop strategies for cost-effective treatment plans for patients with insomnia and to ensure appropriate use of these medications. ![]() These AEs place additional burden on the already vulnerable older adult population and those with comorbidities. Many medications for the treatment of insomnia have adverse effect (AE) profiles that increase the risk of falls and related injuries, cognitive impairment, and motor vehicle accidents. Comorbidities, medications, and/or psychosocial contributors may negatively influence QOL. Insomnia may also exacerbate and increase morbidity and complications from psychological disorders, such as depression, as well as have serious consequences, such as increased risk of suicide. In addition to the societal cost burden, insomnia also negatively affects patients’ quality of life (QOL), including social and occupational functioning or productivity as well as impaired cognition or mood. ![]() The aggregate total of direct and indirect insomnia healthcare costs has been estimated to be as high as $100 billion US dollars per year. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder in adults that can have many negative health impacts. ![]()
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