Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 7, 2025

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach
Published on: October 18, 2024
Prevalence of chronic insomnia in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Fernando G Stelzer1, Eduardo Garcia2, Fabiola Schorr3
1Universidade do Vale do Rio do Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil.
Objectives:
To investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with chronic insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (CIOSA) comorbidity in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients.
Methods:
Between March 2014 and March 2015, we conducted a prospective, cross-sectional study of 238 adults diagnosed with OSA according to polysomnography and International Classification of Sleep Disorders-Third Edition criteria.
Results:
The prevalence of CIOSA was 29%. There was a trend towards older age in the CIOSA group. Sex was not associated with CIOSA. Sleep-maintenance and sleep-onset insomnia predominated in the sample. Beck's depression and anxiety inventory scores were higher in the CIOSA group. Both depression and anxiety symptoms were associated with CIOSA. The arousal and apnea-hypopnea indices were lower in the CIOSA group. CIOSA was also associated with age ≥ 60 years and current tobacco use. Severe OSA and alcohol use were negatively associated with CIOSA.
Conclusions:
Chronic insomnia is prevalent among OSA patients. Our study highlights the need for detailed evaluation of patients with sleep breathing disorders to diagnose other important sleep and mood disorders (such as depression and anxiety), given their frequent association.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Insomnia
Multiple factors contribute...
Management of Insomnia
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Other Pulmonary Disorders

