Sleep is a basic physiological need of humans. Its impairment can have serious consequences for physical and mental health. Sleep disorders affect energy levels as well as vitality, ability to concentrate and perceived quality of life. “They are therefore a major problem for public health,” writes the Federal Statistical Office (BFS) in a statement.
In 2022, a third of the population reported suffering from sleep disorders. This share has increased by 5 percentage points compared to 1997. The increase was particularly noticeable among women and young people between the ages of 15 and 39. Sleep disorders are closely related to mental and physical health. These are some of the results from the new BFS publication on sleep disorders.
Women are more likely to have sleep disorders than men (37 percent versus 29 percent), and the number of those affected increases with advancing age. Sleep disorders occur more frequently in people aged 85 and over than in those aged 15 to 24 (43 percent versus 28 percent). The proportion of people with pathological sleep disorders is highest among 45 to 64 year olds (9 percent).
