The cost of sleep revealed in Australia
02/02/2012
The cost of sleep disorders to the Australian economy has been calculated to be $5 billion (£3.4 billion) a year, according to Deloitte Access Economics.
By calculating the loss of productivity, absenteeism and poor work performance attributed to sleep, as well as a good diet and exercise, the economics advisory practice was able to define the cost of sleep as a monetary value.
More than 1.5 million adult Australians, or nine per cent of the population, suffer from sleep disorders, including sleep apnoea, insomnia and restless leg syndrome.
Professor David Hillman, the director of the West Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute commented on ABC news that: "What these conditions have in common is that they disrupt sleep and cause daytime symptoms."
Direct health costs of sleep disorders costs around $800 million (£542 million) a year, added to other costs, such as productivity losses and workplace accidents, total about $4.3 billion (£2.9 billion), $5.1 billion (£3.5 billion) in total.
Sleep deprivation can lead to several health problems, such as memory loss, weight fluctuations, a weakened immune system and high blood pressure.
Published by Elizabeth Mewes
