Trends in nighttime insomnia symptoms in Canada from 2007 to 2021

Objective

National estimates and trends in insomnia symptoms in Canada are outdated. Updates are needed to inform the development of targeted prevention and intervention strategies. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and trends in nighttime insomnia symptoms among Canadians aged 12 years and older between 2007 and 2021.

Methods

The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), a nationally representative, repeated cross-sectional survey was used. Nighttime insomnia symptoms were self-reported and defined as trouble going to sleep or staying asleep most or all of the time.

Results

This study included data from 197,469 participants. Nighttime insomnia symptoms in Canadians have remained relatively stable from 2007 to 2021, with higher prevalence in adults (18–20 %), particularly women (19–24 %), and those with a medium level of education defined as secondary school graduation (16–21 %). However, nighttime insomnia symptoms became 1.24-fold more prevalent from 2007 to 2021 among women aged 18–64 years (19.3 % vs. 24.0 %) and 1.33-fold more prevalent among those with a medium level of education (15.9 % vs. 21.2 %). Nighttime insomnia symptoms were roughly two times more prevalent in individuals with poorer self-perceived general health, mental health, and life satisfaction compared to those with better self-perception. The prevalence of nighttime insomnia symptoms among those with poor general health increased 1.18-fold from 23.8 % in 2007 to 28.1 % in 2021.

Conclusions

Over this 14-year period, nighttime insomnia symptoms have remained consistently high in Canada, but have increasingly affected certain subgroups. Targeted efforts are needed to address this issue in the most affected segments of the population.