Citation

Mallon L, Broman JE, Hetta J. Sleep Med. 2009; 10(3): 279-286.

Affiliation

Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, University Hospital, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.sleep.2008.12.004

PMID

19269892

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of hypnotic usage on all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a middle-aged population. METHODS: A cohort of 1750 men and 1773 women aged 30-65 years who responded to a postal questionnaire in 1983. The questionnaire included questions about hypnotic usage, sleep duration, sleep complaints, medical conditions, depression, demographic and life style variables. Mortality data for the period 1983-2003 were collected. RESULTS: Regular hypnotic usage was reported by 1.7% of men and 2.2% of women, and was associated with short sleep, sleeping difficulties, several health problems and depression. During the 20-year follow-up period 379 men (21.5%) and 278 women (15.5%) died. After adjustment for potential risk factors in multivariate analyses regular hypnotic usage was associated with significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality in men (Hazard ratios [HR], 4.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.47-8.37) and in women 2.03 (95% CI, 1.07-3.86). With regard to cause-specific mortality, regular hypnotic usage in men was a risk factor for coronary artery disease death, cancer death, suicide and death from "all remaining causes." In women it was a risk factor for suicide. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show an increased risk of all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality in regular users of hypnotics.

Language: en