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Chronic Insomnia in Hospitalized Adults: Associated Conditions and Metabolic AbnormalitiesElderly women with insomnia often have heart disease, infections, and metabolic issues

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Key Takeaway
Recognize that chronic insomnia in hospitalized patients is associated with multiple comorbidities and metabolic abnormalities, but evidence is limited and observational.

This retrospective observational cohort study included 871 hospitalized adult patients aged 18 to 100 years with chronic insomnia at Fengjie County People’s Hospital in Chongqing. The cohort’s mean age was 64.1 ± 13.9 years, with 39.6% male representation and a mean BMI of 23.1 ± 3.7 kg/m². The study did not specify an intervention or comparator.

The most common diagnostic categories associated with chronic insomnia were infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, tumors, and musculoskeletal conditions. Metabolic abnormalities were also frequent, with a significant proportion presenting with elevated fasting blood glucose levels and dyslipidemia. No specific prevalence rates, effect sizes, or confidence intervals were provided for these associations.

No safety or tolerability data were reported; adverse events, serious adverse events, and treatment discontinuations were not described. The study did not report a follow-up duration.

Key limitations include the single-center retrospective design, potential selection bias, and lack of a control group. The authors note that this observational study reports associations only and cannot establish causation. Evidence is from a single-center retrospective cohort; findings may not be generalizable.

Given these limitations, clinicians should interpret these findings cautiously. The results highlight that chronic insomnia in hospitalized patients often co-occurs with multiple comorbidities and metabolic abnormalities, warranting clinical attention to these associations rather than inferring causality.

When older adults are stuck in the hospital with insomnia, what else is going on with their health? Researchers looked back at 871 hospitalized patients with chronic insomnia at a hospital in Chongqing. Most were women around age 64, and many were dealing with infections, heart disease, nervous system disorders, tumors, or muscle and joint problems. They also saw a notable number of people with high fasting blood sugar and abnormal cholesterol levels.

This was a look at medical records, not a test of any treatment. It shows links, not causes. Because it only included people from one hospital, the results may not reflect what happens elsewhere. There was no comparison group without insomnia, so we can’t say how common these issues are in other patients.

Still, it highlights a practical point: when someone with insomnia is hospitalized, doctors may need to watch for these other conditions and check metabolic health.

What this means for you:
In hospitalized patients, insomnia often goes with infections, heart disease, and metabolic issues.

Study Details

Study typeCohort
EvidenceLevel 3
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
ObjectiveInsomnia is a prevalent health issue within the general population. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of research specifically addressing chronic insomnia among hospitalized patients. Consequently, the objective of this study is to investigate chronic insomnia in adult inpatients.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on hospitalized patients at Fengjie County People’s Hospital in Chongqing from January 2022 to June 2025. The study included patients aged 18 to 100 years, with comprehensive documentation of their demographic information, laboratory test results, and insomnia treatment details. Patients with incomplete data or those under 18 years of age were excluded from the study. The analysis focused on the age distribution, gender ratio, and BMI distribution of the patients, as well as the prevalence of primary diagnostic categories and the distribution characteristics of fasting blood glucose levels and dyslipidemia.ResultsThe study included a total of 871 patients, with a male representation of 39.6%. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.1 ± 3.7 kg/m², and the mean age was 64.1 ± 13.9 years. The predominant sources of disease were identified as infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, tumors, and musculoskeletal conditions. A significant proportion of patients presented with elevated fasting blood glucose levels and dyslipidemia.ConclusionChronic insomnia in hospitalized patients predominantly affects elderly women. Chronic insomnia in hospitalized patients predominantly affects elderly women, who primarily present with infectious diseases, cardiovascular conditions, neurological disorders, tumors, and musculoskeletal issues. These patients often exhibit dyslipidemia and elevated fasting blood glucose levels, necessitating clinical attention.
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