Total charges (TC) increased over time in older, hospitalized patients with sleep disturbances, while length of stay (LOS) and mortality risk (MR) decreased, a recent study found. Using the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2002–2012), researchers selected older patients (≥60 years) and rates of insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and other sleep disturbances (OSD) were estimated using ICD-9CM. They found:

• Of 35,258,031 older adults, 263,865 (0.75%) had insomnia, 750,851 (2.13%) OSA, and 21,814 (0.06%) OSD.
• TC for insomnia-related hospital admission increased over time from $22,250 in 2002 to $31,527 in 2012, and increased similarly for OSA and OSD; while LOS and MR both decreased.
• Women with any sleep disturbance had lower MR and TC than men, while whites had consistently higher odds of insomnia, OSA, and OSD than older blacks and Hispanics.
• Comorbidities such as depression, cardiovascular risk factors, and neurological disorders steadily increased over time in patients with sleep disturbances.