Volume : 12, Issue : 06, June – 2025
Title:
THE PREVALENCE AND MANAGEMENT OF SLEEP DISORDERS IN PRIMARY CARE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF GLOBAL AND REGIONAL EVIDENCE
Authors :
Esraa Saeed Bahattab, Nora Al Ali
Abstract :
Sleep disorders are increasingly recognized as major contributors to chronic illness, impaired quality of life, and healthcare burden globally. Primary care physicians are often the first point of contact for patients experiencing sleep problems, yet sleep disorders remain underdiagnosed and undertreated in these settings. This systematic review aims to evaluate the global and regional prevalence of sleep disorders in primary care populations and to assess current management practices. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and regional databases was conducted for studies published between 2000 and 2025. Thirty-nine studies involving over 100,000 patients were included. The most common sleep disorders were insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), restless leg syndrome (RLS), and circadian rhythm disorders. Prevalence rates varied between 10% and 45% depending on the region and diagnostic criteria. Despite high prevalence, management in primary care remains inadequate, hindered by low awareness, lack of training, and limited access to diagnostic tools. The review highlights the need for structured sleep assessment protocols, physician training, and integration of sleep health into chronic disease management frameworks.
Cite This Article:
Please cite this article in press Esraa Saeed Bahattab et al., The Prevalence And Management Of Sleep Disorders In Primary Care: A Systematic Review Of Global And Regional Evidence., Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2025; 12(07).
Number of Downloads : 10
References:
1. Ohayon MM. Epidemiology of insomnia: what we know and what we still need to learn. Sleep Med Rev. 2002;6(2):97–111.
2. Kapur VK, et al. Underdiagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome in U.S. communities. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002;166(7):924–928.
3. Buysse DJ. Insomnia. JAMA. 2013;309(7):706–716.
4. Punjabi NM. The epidemiology of adult obstructive sleep apnea. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008;5(2):136–143.
5. Alshahrani MS, et al. Prevalence of insomnia and OSA symptoms in Saudi primary care. Saudi Med J. 2019;40(2):134–140.
6. Hossain JL, et al. Sleep disorders and the primary care physician. Sleep Med Rev. 2003;7(6):463–475.
7. Bertisch SM, et al. Management of sleep disorders in primary care: a practical guide. J Gen Intern Med. 2018;33(10):1660–1669.
8. Kryger MH, et al. The impact of sleep disorders on health. Sleep Health. 2017;3(1):10–13.
9. Zailinawati AH, et al. Sleep problems among Malaysian primary care patients. Fam Pract. 2009;26(2):103–109.
10. Stepnowsky CJ, et al. Primary care screening and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review. JAMA Intern Med. 2021;181(3):390–400.
11. Qaseem A, et al. Management of chronic insomnia disorder in adults: clinical guideline. Ann Intern Med. 2016;165(2):125–133.
12. Grandner MA, et al. Sleep and health: approaches for primary care. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2017;11(6):512–520.