Pharmacoeconomic characteristics of insomnia

Insomnia represents great health and economic problem of modern society. By analyzing data from great number of epidemiological studies it can be concluded that the real prevalence of all insomnia forms in general population is about 30%. Insomnia can be related to significant daily effects such as fatigue, irritability, poor concentration and mood changes, and consenquently many of the life activities are being disturbed. Considering the frequency and the consequences of insomnia, there is no doubt that it causes huge material losses and represents great health and economic problem. Economic consequences of insomnia are associated to direct, indirect and related costs. The research in our environment has shown that total costs of primary insomnia treated with hypnotics are significant for entire society, and represent up to one third of the average salary in Republic of Serbia. Costs arising from the reduction of work capacity of patients with primary insomnia represent the majority of insomnia related costs which dominantly are borne by the individual suffering from chronic insomnia, and in some part are also a burden to employer as well as the health insurance fund, while medical costs are primarily a burden to the budget of the National health insurance fund.