The prevalence of insomnia in Central Catalonia increased by 43.4 % between 2018 and 2024, reaching 11.17 % of the adult population. This is one of the main conclusions of a study led by Berta Bertrans Vilaró, a researcher at the Central Catalonia Primary Care Research Support Unit of IDIAPJGol-ICS and a family physician at CAP Navàs. The study was recently published in the journal Family Medicine and Community Health.
The study shows that the increase in insomnia was sustained throughout the period analysed and has become a public health concern, highlighting the need to strengthen prevention and treatment strategies in primary care settings.
“During the study, we identified several factors associated with a higher prevalence of the disorder, including older age, being a woman, living in urban areas, polypharmacy and the presence of mental health problems such as anxiety or depression,” explains Dr Bertrans. The results also indicate that insomnia is increasingly affecting younger people and is closely linked to the rise in mental health disorders.
Increase in medication prescriptions
The study highlights that the use of medication associated with insomnia treatment has also increased significantly.
In 2018, 47.9 % of people diagnosed with insomnia received pharmacological treatment, while by 2024 this figure had risen to 55.1 %.
Implications for primary care
According to the researcher, the study’s findings reinforce the role of primary care as a key setting for the early detection of sleep problems and for promoting non-pharmacological treatment options, given that the high reliance on pharmacological treatments could pose risks, particularly for older people or those with other underlying conditions.
The study highlights the need to develop new care strategies to facilitate access to non-pharmacological treatment, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy, which is considered the most effective and safest option for treating chronic insomnia. It also opens the door to future research aimed at implementing digital programmes based on these types of therapies, improving patients’ access to the recommended treatment and helping to reduce the overprescription of medication.
Manresa Research Night
The findings of the study were presented at the Manresa Research Night, held on 24 September. Berta Bertrans’ presentation focused on how to address insomnia and reduce the use of medication to improve sleep quality.
Article reference
Bertrans Vilaró B, Miró Catalina Q, Vidal-Alaball J. Insomnia and associated pharmacological prescription in the adult population in primary care in Central Catalonia from 2018 to 2024. Fam Med Community Health. 2026 Aug 31;14(3):e004152. doi: 10.1136/fmch-2026-004152. PMID: 42674672; PMCID: PMC13536077.
