A new publication within the Cost of Illness in Neurology (COIN-EU) project, funded by the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) and supported by additional funding from the Lundbeck Foundation, highlights the profound and often underestimated health and economic impact of sleep disorders across Europe. The study around the economic impact by neurological disorders provides one of the most comprehensive assessments to date of the epidemiology and economic burden associated with major sleep disorders, including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, and REM sleep behaviour disorder.
Sleep is a fundamental determinant of physical, neurological, and mental health. Yet chronic sleep disturbances affect an estimated 20–30% of the population and remain insufficiently recognized within public health strategies. Through systematic literature review and economic modelling, the study demonstrates that sleep disorders are not only highly prevalent but also deeply interconnected with major health conditions such as dementia, stroke, Parkinsonism, depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. By impairing cognitive function, mood regulation, and daily performance, these disorders have far-reaching consequences for both individuals and society.
The economic findings are striking. The total annual cost of sleep disorders in Europe is estimated at nearly €423 billion (PPP-adjusted 2019 values), representing approximately 3% of the combined GDP of high-income European countries and about one-quarter of the region’s total neurological disease burden. Costs stem from healthcare expenditures, productivity losses, and informal care needs, with direct and indirect costs contributing roughly equally. Among the disorders studied, obstructive sleep apnea accounts for the largest share of total costs, while REM sleep behaviour disorder carries the highest per-patient financial impact.
Despite this substantial burden, major gaps persist in research, awareness, and policy prioritization. The findings underscore the need for greater recognition of sleep health as a critical pillar of public health and neurological well-being. Experts involved in the COIN-EU initiative emphasize that advances in sleep medicine offer significant opportunities for prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatment—measures that could reduce healthcare expenditures, improve quality of life, and mitigate productivity losses across Europe.
By quantifying the scale of the challenge, this study provides an essential evidence base for clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and healthcare systems. The results reinforce the call for coordinated action to integrate sleep health into disease prevention strategies and healthcare planning, ensuring that the societal and economic consequences of sleep disorders are no longer overlooked.
