Sleep Deprivation and Economic Burden

Sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep-disorder breathing (i.e., snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, and obesity hypoventilation syndrome), shift-work disorder, sleep deprivation, and restless legs syndrome can have a significant impact on a patient’s health-related quality-of-life, workplace productivity, and daily functioning. Sleep is considered vital for preserving daytime cognitive function and physiological well-being. Sleep disorders are commonly associated with other major medical problems such as chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, mental illness, dementias, gastrointestinal disorders, and diabetes mellitus. The resultant economic burden at both the individual and societal levels is significant. Thus, in order to properly care for patients presenting with sleep-related morbidity, and to reduce the ensuing economic burden, accurate screening efforts and efficacious/cost-effective treatments need to be developed and employed.