The Health Economics of Sleep Disorders Among Older Adults

Purpose of ReviewSleep disorders are associated with well-documented health consequences and substantial economic burden among older adults. This review aims to highlight the existing health economic evidence of sleep disorders among older adults.Recent FindingsAs highlighted throughout this review, sleep disorders are associated with substantial economic costs that are borne by patients, payers, and society. Direct and indirect costs, as well as diminished health-related quality of life, are reviewed for common sleep disorders. Further, potential health economic benefits from diagnosing and treating sleep disorders among older adults are considered.SummaryThis review highlights the economic aspects of sleep disorders among older adults, including the economic costs of treating sleep disorders and potential economic gain from treating sleep disorders. Future research should seek to include and incorporate economic endpoints into studies of sleep among older adults. Particular emphasis should be placed on older adults with comorbid medical and psychiatric disease (e.g., cardiovascular disease, depression, neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease), as well as the relative economic impact of various approaches to diagnosis and treatment, including telemedicine and remote monitoring of sleep among older adults.