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The Article in Brief
Alcohol and Sleep Problems in Primary Care Patients: A Report From the AAFP National Research Network
Daniel C. Vinson , and colleagues
Background High levels of alcohol use are often thought to be related to sleep problems, but this association has never been tested in the primary care setting. This study examined the relationship between heavy alcohol use and sleep problems among primary care patients.
What This Study Found While hazardous drinking and sleep problems were prevalent in this large cross-sectional national survey of primary care patients, researchers found no associations between drinking status and self-reported measures of insomnia, overall sleep quality, or restless legs syndrome symptoms. They did find, however, that self-reported use of alcohol for sleep was strongly associated with hazardous drinking.
Implications
- Physicians should consider asking about excessive alcohol use when patients report using alcohol for sleep.