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Using difficulty resuming sleep to define nocturnal awakenings
Maurice M Ohayon1, Andrew Krystal, Timothy A Roehrs
1Stanford Sleep Epidemiology Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94303, USA. mohayon@stanford.edu
Sleep Medicine
|January 16, 2010
Summary
Nocturnal awakenings affect about one-third of the population. Difficulty resuming sleep after waking is linked to significant daytime impairment and seeking medical help for sleep issues.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Nocturnal awakenings are common sleep disturbances.
- Their frequency and impact on sleep quality are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of nocturnal awakenings.
- To investigate the impact of difficulty resuming sleep on sleep quality and daytime function.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional telephone survey of 8937 adults in the US.
- Assessed frequency, duration, and difficulty resuming sleep.
- Included questions on sleep habits, health, and mental disorders.
Main Results:
- 35.5% of participants reported nocturnal awakenings at least three nights per week.
- 15.2% of the total sample had difficulty resuming sleep after waking.
- Difficulty resuming sleep correlated with shorter sleep duration, poorer sleep quality, and greater daytime impairment.
Conclusions:
- Nocturnal awakenings impact approximately one-third of the general population.
- Difficulty resuming sleep is a key indicator of significant daytime impairment and need for medical attention.
- Nocturnal awakenings alone, without other insomnia symptoms, are unlikely to cause daytime impairment.
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