gms | German Medical Science

21. Deutscher Kongress für Versorgungsforschung

Deutsches Netzwerk Versorgungsforschung e. V.

05.10. - 07.10.2022, Potsdam

Real-world data on persons self-reporting an insomnia diagnosis by a physician in Germany: Results of a pre-planned subgroup analysis of the EU National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS)

Meeting Abstract

  • Anna Heidbreder - Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Klinik für Neurologie, Innsbruck, Österreich
  • Dieter Kunz - AG Schlafforschung und Klinische Chronobiologie, Institut für Physiologie, Charité, St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, Klinik für Schlaf- und Chronomedizin, Berlin, Deutschland
  • Peter Young - Medical Park Bad Feilnbach Reithofpark, Neurologische Klinik, Bad Feilnbach, Deutschland
  • Heike Benes - Somni Bene Institut für Medizinische Forschung und Schlafmedizin Schwerin GmbH, Schwerin, Deutschland
  • Francois-Xavier Chalet - Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Health Economics, Allschwil, Schweiz
  • Cedric Vaillant - Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Global LCM, Allschwil, Schweiz
  • Peter Kaskel - Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Germany GmbH, Market Access, München, Deutschland
  • Ingo Fietze - Schlafmedizin (Campus Charité Mitte), Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland
  • Christoph Schöbel - Universitätsmedizin Essen, Ruhrlandklinik - Westdeutsches Lungenzentrum am Universitätsklinikum Essen gGmbH, Zentrum für Schlaf- und Telemedizin, Essen, Deutschland

21. Deutscher Kongress für Versorgungsforschung (DKVF). Potsdam, 05.-07.10.2022. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2022. Doc22dkvf263

doi: 10.3205/22dkvf263, urn:nbn:de:0183-22dkvf2636

Veröffentlicht: 30. September 2022

© 2022 Heidbreder et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open-Access-Artikel und steht unter den Lizenzbedingungen der Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (Namensnennung). Lizenz-Angaben siehe http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.


Gliederung

Text

Background and status of (inter)national research: People suffering from insomnia disorder have an increased risk of mental disorders, metabolic disorders, immuno and inflammatory system dysfunctioning and neurodegeneration. Absenteeism rates in Germany are approx. 3 times higher compared to persons without insomnia disorder. Therefore, the appropriate diagnosis and therapy of insomnia disorder is an essential medical and societal need.

Research question and objective: The objective of this pre-planned subgroup analysis of persons from Germany participating in a European survey was to assess real-world reports on insomnia diagnosis and medication treatment in Germany, using self-reported data.

Method or hypothesis: Data derived from the German participants of the 2020 EU (N=10,034) National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS), which is a patient-reported survey administered yearly to a demographically representative sample of adults (with respect to age, sex, and region), were used. Information obtained from respondents who self-reported a diagnosis of insomnia confirmed by a physician (and no other sleep difficulties) and being on treatment with prescribed medicines for their insomnia (diagnosed & treated, DT; N=138), as well as diagnosed respondents that are not treated with prescribed medicines (diagnosed & untreated, DUt; N=394) were collected. Severity of insomnia was measured by Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).

Results: Insomnia was no/subthreshold, moderate or severe in 45%, 36% and 19% of DT, and 50%, 39% and 11% of DUt respondents, respectively. 35% of DT respondents reported to be treated with benzodiazepines or Z-drugs, and 65% with off-label medications. No information regarding cognitive behavioral therapy had been collected. DT had experienced mean±SD (median; 25th/75th percentile) 237±139 (290; 110/360) days of insomnia in the previous 12 months, while DUt had a mean of 200±137 (180; 63/360) days. The time since diagnosis of insomnia by a physician, as per mean±SD (median; 25th/75th percentile) was 8.1±7.7 (5.5; 2.0/11.0) years in DT, and 8.4±10.2 (5.0; 2.0/10.0) years in DUt. As for the DUt cohort, 72% had never taken a prescribed medicine for their insomnia, and 16% reported that the doctor ever recommended a prescription medicine for treatment of their insomnia.

Discussion: The proportion of respondents who had moderate to severe insomnia was comparable with 54% in DT, and 50% in DUt. Amongst persons diagnosed with insomnia there seems to be a substantial proportion that is not treated with prescribed medicines. The reasons for respondents being treated off-label or not being treated with medication cannot be identified based on the available data, which are self-reported.

Practical implications: The disease duration as well as the time since diagnosis reported is very long and is comparable in both groups (DT and DUt).

Appeal for practice (science and/or care) in one sentence: As the burden of insomnia to persons affected is substantial, the data indicate a high unmet medical need in Germany.

Funding: Sonstige Förderung; Idorsia Ltd., Allschwil, Schweiz