EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SLEEP DISTURBANCES IN AUS TRIA

Epidemiologic data on sleep disturbances in Austria were collected for the first time in March/April 1993 in a representative inquiry (Sampl e: n = 1000, 471 males, 529 females). 26% of the subjects reported sle ep disturbances which were mostly chronic (21% had suffered from sleep disturbance for more than one year). The incidence of sleep disturban ces increased with age, namely 13% in 14-30 year-old subjects, 22% in 31-50 year-old ones and 41% in subjects over 50. 7% suffered from dist urbances in sleep initiation, i.e., they had a sleep latency of over 3 0 minutes. 19% of them had difficulties in getting to sleep at least o nce a week. Disturbances in maintaining sleep were reported by 28% of subjects, 56% of them needing longer than one hour to get back to slee p. 30% suffered from daytime sleepiness, 43% of the subjects were impa ired by their sleep disturbances in some way, but only 34% had consult ed their doctor.