Longitudinal analysis of anxiety and sleep disorders in the Korean population with disabilities, from 2006 to 2017: Incidence, prevalence, and association with disability type and severity.

BACKGROUND

Individuals with disabilities often face a higher risk of concurrent psychological problems, yet comprehensive assessments of the anxiety and sleep disorders in this population remain limited. This study examined longitudinal trends in the incidence and prevalence of anxiety and sleep disorders among people with disabilities and explored their associations with disability type and severity.

METHODS

Utilizing claim data from the National Health Insurance database and the National Disability Registry, which cover the entire Korean population, we estimated the age-standardized incidence and prevalence of anxiety and sleep disorders between 2006 and 2017. Logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between disability type and severity and these disorders.

RESULTS

The unadjusted incidence and prevalence of anxiety and sleep disorders were consistently higher among individuals with disabilities during the study period. A significant gap in the prevalence of these disorders persisted between individuals with and without disabilities in both sexes, even after accounting for socioeconomic status and comorbidities. However, the incidence showed mixed results, with some categories of disabilities showing lower likelihood of developing the conditions compared to individuals without disabilities.

CONCLUSIONS

Actions should also be taken to identify undiagnosed cases of anxiety and sleep disorders among individuals with disabilities. Moreover, individuals with disabilities who are diagnosed with these disorders should be more actively managed to avert the progression to the chronic stage.