Gender Difference in the Prevalence of Insomnia: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
PubMed 33329116 · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.577429
What was done
Two reviewers searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science up to April 16, 2019, for observational studies reporting the prevalence of insomnia by gender in the general population using international diagnostic criteria. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to pool prevalence and odds ratios, with subgroup and meta-regression analyses performed.
What was found
Thirteen studies comprising 22,980 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of insomnia in the general population was 22.0% (95% CI: 17.0% to 28.0%). Females had a significantly higher prevalence of insomnia compared with males (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.35 to 1.85, Z = 5.63, p < 0.0001). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses showed greater gender disparities in studies with higher methodological quality, higher female proportions, case-control designs, and consecutive sampling.
Why it matters
This review synthesizes conflicting epidemiological literature, providing quantified evidence that women face roughly 1.5-fold higher odds of meeting diagnostic criteria for insomnia compared to men in the general population.
Limits
The synthesis relies entirely on observational studies and includes only 13 articles. The abstract does not report geographic representation, age strata, or adjustments for potential confounders such as socioeconomic status, shift work, or co-occurring psychiatric conditions.