People who suffer from insomnia may face strokes and hospital stays more often, and may also have a higher risk of certain brain diseases and mental disorders. An international team of researchers reached these conclusions after analyzing data on seven health consequences of insomnia from previous scientific papers, according to infohub.kz.
The analysis results were published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews. The scientists examined publications from the MEDLINE and EMBASE medical databases released before August 2025. The review also included three new systematic reviews of studies on stroke, occupational injuries, and hospitalization.
The stroke analysis included data from more than 1.3 million people. In people with insomnia, the risk of stroke was 26% higher than in those without this sleep disorder.
Insomnia was also linked to a higher likelihood of hospitalization for any cause. According to three studies, the chance of being admitted to hospital was 28% higher.
Studies have linked insomnia to depression and suicidal behavior. Most reviews also found a connection between insomnia and dementia, although results of individual studies varied.
With insomnia, a person experiences problems falling asleep or staying asleep, accompanied by impaired daytime functioning, despite having the opportunity to sleep.
The authors note that the findings show an association but do not prove that insomnia directly causes stroke, dementia, or other diseases. The study points to the need to pay more attention to sleep disorders when assessing health.
Earlier, an endocrinologist told Kursiv Health about the rules for taking melatonin for sleep problems.