UCSF

BACKGROUND: Sleep difficulties are commonly reported by patients with asthma; however, the prevalence of insomnia and its association with disease burden and well-being is unknown. We aimed to determine the prevalence of insomnia, defined as combined sleep-specific complaints with associated daytime symptoms, among a large sample of adults with asthma, and to compare well-being, asthma control, and asthma-related health care utilization in individuals with asthma and insomnia and those without insomnia. METHODS: Baseline data from adults with physician-confirmed asthma enrolled in the Severe Asthma Research Program III was used for analyses (N = 714). Participants completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Asthma Control Test, Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: Insomnia (ISI ≥ 10) was identified in 263 participants (37%). Presence of insomnia was associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms and poorer quality of life. Those with insomnia had a 2.4-fold increased risk for having not well-controlled asthma and a 1.5-fold increased risk for asthma-related health care utilization in the past year compared with those without insomnia. CONCLUSIONS: Insomnia is highly prevalent in asthma and is associated with adverse outcomes. Further studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the interaction between insomnia and asthma control.