Sleep physicians have pointed out that the true incidence of sleep disorders is likely under-reported because few primary care physicians ask their patients about their sleep. However, there has been limited data to support the anecdotal evidence that this is true. Now a North Carolina study may fill in some of this research evidence gap.

Investigators at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, surveyed adult patients in five family practice offices in North Carolina. They approached 2,963 patients who presented for office visits, and 1,935 (65.3%) agreed to fill out a four-page questionnaire about their sleep syndromes, demographic status, and general health.

When the researchers reviewed the questionnaires, they found that sleep complaints are highly prevalent in primary care populations. More than half the people who completed the questionnaire reported excessive daytime sleepiness, one third had insomnia, more than 25% had symptoms of restless legs syndrome, and 13% to 33% reported OSA symptoms. Participants who rated their health as poor reported significantly higher rates of all sleep disturbance items. In addition, patients with hypertension, pain syndromes, and depression had a significantly increased risk for all sleep complaints. Finally, patients who reported limited activity had a significant risk of restless legs syndrome. The researchers concluded that patients with the highest risk for sleep disturbance were those with pain, mental illness, limited activity, and overall “poor physical and mental health.”