Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Insomnia Among Adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background Insomnia is a common sleep disorder with significant effects on physical and mental health. This study aimed to document the prevalence of insomnia and its associated risk factors among adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh using the Sleep Condition Indicator Questionnaire (SCIQ). Data were collected from 548 participants. The inclusion criteria encompassed adults aged 18 and above living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, and sleep patterns was gathered through a translated eight-item SCIQ (score ≤16=insomnia). Statistical analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27.0 (Released 2020; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results The findings revealed a significant prevalence of insomnia, affecting 219 individuals (40%). Insomnia was significantly associated with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria, including difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, frequency of sleep disturbances, significant distress, and duration of sleep disturbances (p<0.001 for each). The highest prevalence of insomnia was observed in the 40-60-year age group (n=91, 45.7%, p=0.014), among smokers (n=27, 60%, p=0.0063), and among obese individuals (n=20, 54.1%, p=0.035). Additionally, insomnia was strongly associated with anxiety (n=49, 66.2%, p<0.001), depression (n=27, 54%, p=0.033), and hypertension (n=24, 58.5%, p=0.011). Conclusion This study highlighted the high prevalence of insomnia among adults in Riyadh, particularly among older adults, smokers, and those with chronic health conditions. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address insomnia and its associated risk factors. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to establish causal relationships and explore the impacts of lifestyle and genetic factors on insomnia.