Sleep Problems, Alcohol Consumption, and Chronic Disease in Primary Care Settings - Identification of Patients

• Study Description and Methods
• Specific Aims and Objectives
• Timeline
• Status
• Presentations
• Key Findings and Publications
• Contact Information

Study Description and Methods

In a cross-sectional survey of primary physicians and their patients, we examined whether greater levels of alcohol consumption is associated with a variety of self-reported sleep problems. Patients were asked questions on demographics, alcohol consumption, alcohol use disorders, sleep quality, insomnia, sleep apnea, and symptoms of restless leg syndrome.

View a copy of the survey instrument.

Specific Aims and Objectives

The aims of this pilot project are to determine:

1. The relationship between various manifestations of sleep disorders and types and severity of alcohol problems (alcohol dependence, risky drinking) of patients presenting to their primary care clinician;
2. The clinician’s awareness of these two types of patient problems; and
3. The relationship between these two problems and selected chronic diseases (e.g., coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, depression).

Timeline

This study was conducted from October 2, 2007, through September 2, 2008.

Status

This study is completed. Please see below for Key Findings and Publications.

Presentations

“Exploring the Associations between Alcohol and Sleep problems in Primary Care Settings”. Annual Conference of the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) in San Juan, PR on November 16, 2008.

Key Findings and Publications

Moderate and hazardous drinking were associated with few sleep problems. However, using alcohol for sleep was strongly associated with hazardous drinking relative to moderate drinking and may serve as a prompt for physicians to ask about excessive alcohol use.

Access the complete manuscripts:

Clinician Suspicion of an Alcohol Problem: An Observational Study from the AAFP National Research Network.Vinson D, Turner B, Manning BM, et al. Ann Fam Med. 2013;11(1):53-59.

Alcohol and Sleep Problems in Primary Care Patients: A Report from the AAFP National Research Network. Vinson DC, Manning, BK, Galliher JM, et al. Ann Fam Med. 2010;8(6):484-492

Contact Information

For additional information about this study, please contact:

Brian Manning, MPH, CHES
Associate Research Director
AAFP National Research Network
1-800-274-2237, x3179
bmanning@aafp.org

This project was funded by a grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.