Abstract

PACHECO QUESADA, Gerardo Manuel  and  REY DE CASTRO MUJICA, Jorge. Insomnio en pacientes adultos ambulatorios de medicina interna del Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza . Rev Med Hered [online]. 2003, vol.14, n.2, pp.63-68. ISSN 1018-130X.

Objective: To know the frequency and characteristics of insomnia in patients evaluated in the internal medicine offices . Material and methods:: We realized a cross sectional and descriptive study during February and March 2001. We used a validate questionnaire of 34 questions. Results:: We inquired 330 patients: 72 (22%) males and 258 (78%) females. The frequency of insomnia was 48%, with 12% reporting occasional insomnia and 19% chronic insomnia. 34% insomnia patients used self-prescribed medicines. Only 60 (38%) patients asked their physician about the sleep problems. The most recommended treatment by physicians was medicines, mainly benzodiazepines. Conclusions: The study found an increased frequency of insomnia in patients of internal medicine offices. Insomniac patients usually don’t visit their physicians to discuss their sleep problems. Both, physicians and patients used pharmacological therapies more often than non pharmacologic therapies for the insomnia treatment. ( Rev Med Hered 2003; 14: 63-68 ).

Keywords : Insomnia; occasional insomnia; chronic insomnia.

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