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Study Links Sleeping Pill Use and Insomnia to Increased Disability Risk
Millions who rely on sleeping medications may face a heightened risk of developing disabilities later in life, according to a recent study. The research highlights a concerning link between insomnia, sleep aid consumption, and subsequent physical limitations, particularly for older adults.
Insomnia and Medication Use Linked to Higher Disability Odds
Researchers from Penn State University and Taipei Medical University conducted a five-year data analysis, revealing a significant correlation between increased insomnia symptoms, the use of sleep medication, and an elevated likelihood of disability within a year. The findings suggest a potential long-term impact of sleep disturbances and reliance on sleep aids.
The study indicated that with each annual incremental increase in insomnia severity, the risk of experiencing some form of disability in daily living rose by 20 percent. A comparable level of increased risk was observed with greater frequency of sleep medication use.
Types of Disabilities Examined
The disabilities assessed in the study included difficulties performing essential self-care tasks. These encompassed challenges with:
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- Dressing
- Eating
- Using the toilet
- Showering
Consequences of Sleep Deprivation
The American Psychiatric Association points out that insufficient sleep can trigger various adverse effects. The most commonly recognized issues include fatigue, reduced energy levels, heightened irritability, and impaired concentration. Furthermore, some sleep aids can induce drowsiness, potentially increasing the risk of falls, particularly among elderly individuals.
Interestingly, the research demonstrated that both insomnia and sleep medications contributed to a comparable rise in the probability of developing a disability. This suggests that general exhaustion could be a key factor influencing both mental and physical well-being.
Study indicates that sleeping medications may be associated with increased risk of disabilities.
Prior Research Reinforces Insomnia’s Harmful Effects
The researchers emphasized that numerous previous studies have already documented the detrimental physical, mental, and emotional consequences of insomnia. This new research adds to the growing body of evidence highlighting the importance of addressing sleep disorders.
Types of Sleep Medications Unclear in Study
It remains unclear from the study what specific types of sleep medications the participants were using. Common sleeping pills prescribed for insomnia in the United States include doxepin, stazolam, eszopiclone, ramelteon, suvorexant, temazepam, and triazolam.
Prevalence of Insomnia in the US
The National Sleep Foundation estimates that approximately 30 percent of adults in the U.S. experience symptoms of insomnia, with 10 percent suffering from chronic insomnia. This translates to a significant public health concern, affecting between 70 to 90 million Americans.
Study Methodology
The researchers analyzed data collected from 6,722 participants in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a national sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older. The team examined over 22,000 individual observations from the study’s initial five waves of data collection, spanning from 2011 to 2015.
Disability Assessment Tools
NHATS data incorporated annual disability measurements using a validated questionnaire. This questionnaire explored various routine activities, ranging from ease of getting out of bed to the ability to dress independently. To assess the impact of insomnia and sleeping medications on these tasks, participants provided self-assessments.
For each self-care activity, participants were categorized as:
- ‘Fully able’: Completing the activity unaided.
- ‘Vulnerable’ to disability: Using accommodations, reducing participation, or experiencing difficulty with tasks.
- ‘Assistance’ needed: Unable to complete the activity without help.
A scoring system was used to quantify disability levels: ‘fully able’ received one point, ‘vulnerable’ two points, and ‘assistance’ four points. Higher scores indicated greater levels of disability. A score of two or higher was defined by researchers as representing a ‘meaningful level of disability‘.
NHATS data also included five levels of frequency regarding insomnia symptoms and sleep-medication use: never, once a week, some nights, most nights, and every night. These frequency levels were also assigned numerical scores from one (‘never’) to five (‘every night’).
The study revealed that for each increase in reported insomnia symptom frequency, the average disability score was 0.2 points higher the following year. Similarly, for each increase in reported sleep medication use frequency, the subsequent year’s disability score averaged 0.19 points higher.
Expert Commentary and Recommendations
Tuo-Yu ‘Tim’ Chen, the lead author of the study published in the journal Sleep, commented on the findings: ‘As an average example, these numbers suggest that an older adult who increased their sleep medication use from ‘never’ to ‘every night’ over five years would likely develop a clinically significant disability.’
Chen further clarified, ‘On an individual level, we cannot predict risk definitively. However, if an older adult experiences prolonged sleep problems or relies on sleep medication over an extended period, they are at a heightened risk of becoming disabled.’
Another prior study by the same research team indicated that sleep medication increases the likelihood of falls in older adults. Orfeu Buxton, a co-author of the current study, believes falls may be a significant factor linking sleep medication to increased disability levels.
Given the potential contribution of both insomnia and sleep medication to disability, researchers emphasize the importance of safe and effective insomnia management for older individuals. They recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a safer and equally effective alternative treatment for insomnia, helping individuals modify thought and behavior patterns.
Soomi Lee, another co-author, concluded, ‘Many older adults perceive sleep disturbances as an inevitable part of aging, but they represent a genuine problem needing attention… and this problem is unlikely to resolve without consulting doctors. With limited access to sleep clinics, particularly in rural areas, older individuals may need to actively advocate for appropriate treatment.’