Study Links Insomnia to Increased Stroke Risk and Other Health Issues

Led by Luca Vignatelli from the Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna in Italy, the analysis was published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews, with support from the European Academy of Neurology. The Medical University of Vienna in Austria contributed to the study as well.

The researchers utilized an umbrella systematic review methodology, which compiles and reassesses findings from prior systematic reviews and meta-analyses. They examined 16 existing meta-analyses and conducted new reviews specifically for stroke, occupational injury, and hospitalization, as no previous meta-analyses existed for these areas. The outcomes assessed included dementia, stroke, depression, suicidal behavior, death, hospitalization, and occupational injury.

The findings on stroke were particularly significant, with nine studies encompassing a total of 1,343,164 participants. A meta-analysis of six of these studies revealed a hazard ratio of 1.26 for stroke in individuals with insomnia, suggesting a variable strength of this association across different studies.

The study also indicated a connection between insomnia and all-cause dementia, with a relatively consistent link to Alzheimer's disease across multiple reviews. Those suffering from insomnia exhibited increased rates of depressive symptoms, and the analysis confirmed ties to suicidal ideation, attempts, and fatalities. In a review of five studies on hospitalization involving 517,620 individuals, the odds ratio for hospitalization among insomnia patients was found to be 28% higher.

Conversely, the research found no clear correlation between insomnia and mortality rates, and the evidence regarding occupational injury was insufficient for conclusive results. The number of insomnia cases is also on the rise in South Korea, with data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service indicating an increase from approximately 650,000 patients in 2020 to around 760,000 in 2024.

The researchers emphasize that their findings reflect associations rather than causation, citing limitations such as varying definitions of insomnia across studies and a limited number of studies addressing the use of sleeping medications. Vignatelli noted that insomnia may act as a marker for overall health, rather than being solely a sleep issue, advocating for its treatment within a broader healthcare context. Co-author Stefan Seidel, from the Medical University of Vienna, highlighted the importance of incorporating sleep health into brain health initiatives across various demographic groups, urging inclusion in health promotion efforts within communities, educational institutions, and workplaces.