A Groundbreaking University-Led Investigation into Europe's Sleep Disorders

Recent research spearheaded by leading European universities has brought to light a pressing public health issue: the staggering economic and health burden of sleep disorders across the continent. The Cost of Illness in Neurology in Europe (COIN-EU) project, coordinated by the European Academy of Neurology and involving institutions such as the University of Bern in Switzerland, University Duisburg-Essen in Germany, Ghent University in Belgium, and Grenoble Alpes University in France, has quantified the annual cost at nearly €423 billion for high-income European countries alone. This figure, equivalent to about 3% of the collective gross domestic product (GDP), underscores how sleep disorders—ranging from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to insomnia—are not just personal struggles but macroeconomic challenges.

The study, published in the European Journal of Neurology in February 2026, analyzed five major sleep disorders: OSA, insomnia disorder, restless legs syndrome (RLS), narcolepsy, and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Researchers conducted systematic literature reviews of PubMed data from 2010 to 2023, supplemented by expert input, to estimate prevalence and costs. Prevalence rates are alarmingly high: OSA affects 18% of adults aged 30 and older, insomnia 10% of those 20 and up, RLS 3%, narcolepsy 0.03%, and RBD 0.009%. These disorders lead to direct healthcare costs (48% of total) and indirect productivity losses (52%), with no reliable data yet on informal care or middle-income countries.

University researchers emphasized the need for sleep health to become a public health priority, highlighting gaps in current strategies. This collaborative effort across European higher education institutions demonstrates academia's pivotal role in addressing societal issues through rigorous, data-driven analysis.

Breaking Down the €423 Billion Economic Toll

Delving deeper, OSA tops the cost chart at €184 billion annually (1.32% of GDP), driven by its high prevalence and treatment needs like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. Insomnia follows at €158 billion (1.14% of GDP), RLS at €79 billion, narcolepsy at €905 million, and RBD at €436 million. Per-patient costs vary significantly: RBD patients face the highest at €14,234 yearly, while OSA is €3,002.

Country-specific impacts reveal disparities; Germany shoulders €106 billion, France €68 billion, the UK €39 billion, and Italy €36 billion. In Switzerland, the burden reaches €16.3 billion, or 3.25% of GDP and €1,855 per capita. These figures, adjusted to 2019 purchasing power parity (PPP) euros, account for medical expenses, absenteeism, and presenteeism—where fatigued workers underperform.

Higher education plays a crucial role here, as university health economists and neurologists modeled these costs, imputing data for underrepresented areas using GDP and health expenditure proxies. This academic rigor ensures policymakers have actionable insights.

Sleep Disorders Prevalent Among University Students Across Europe

While the COIN-EU study focuses on adults, parallel research highlights acute risks in higher education. European university students report sleep disturbances at rates up to 30-64%, exacerbated by academic stress, irregular schedules, and digital overuse. A study on nursing students found 30.6% with one or more disorders, insomnia most common, correlating with lower grade point averages (GPAs).

In the UK and other nations, financial worries and pandemic effects worsened sleep for students, linking poor rest to mental health declines and reduced scholastic success. Surveys across seven countries show inconsistent sleep hygiene among higher ed learners, with late-night studying and social media disrupting circadian rhythms. Universities like those in Portugal and Spain note 67-85% of students citing stress and academics as culprits.

Academic Performance Suffers: Evidence from European Campuses

Poor sleep directly hampers cognitive functions essential for university success—memory consolidation, attention, and problem-solving. Studies confirm students with disorders have lower GPAs; one found 28.9% high achievers versus risks for failure among the sleep-deprived. In Europe, sleep issues contribute to higher dropout rates and delayed graduations, straining institutional resources.

Longitudinal data from UK universities link sleep disturbance to mental strain, with 64% of international students sleep-deprived amid stress. Neurological research from Leiden University and others ties chronic deprivation to impaired executive function, mirroring broader population trends in the COIN-EU findings.

Stakeholder views vary: student unions call for wellness integration, while faculty note reduced class engagement. A meta-analysis underscores insomnia's ties to anxiety, depression, and stress in uni populations.

University-Led Solutions: Initiatives Tackling the Crisis

European universities are pioneering responses. The EU-funded LTS project delivers online cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), accessible via apps developed with sleep experts. Freiburg University's StudiCare offers English-language sleep interventions for international students.

Personalized circadian hygiene programs, tested at UK institutions, tailor advice on sleep timing, meals, exercise, and light exposure, improving quality via apps. The European Sleep Research Society (ESRS) collaborates with unis for education, while Sleep Health Europe pushes school/workplace campaigns.

• Sleep hygiene workshops integrated into orientations.
• Digital detox challenges reducing blue light exposure.
• CBT-I apps with university counseling tie-ins.
• Research grants for student sleep labs.

Health Risks Amplified in Higher Education Environments

Beyond economics, sleep disorders heighten cardiovascular risks (OSA), mental health issues (insomnia), and neurodegeneration (RBD). For students, this manifests as burnout, with 47% reporting high stress. University researchers warn of long-term DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) losses, unquantified in COIN-EU but critical for youth.

Cultural contexts vary: Mediterranean siesta traditions clash with rigid schedules in Northern Europe, per regional studies. Real-world cases, like post-COVID sleep trajectories across five nations, show persistent declines.

Stakeholder Perspectives: From Faculty to Policymakers

University leaders like Claudio Bassetti (University of Bern) advocate prioritizing sleep in neurology curricula.Read the full COIN-EU study here. Student bodies demand flexible timetables; EAN pushes EU funding. Balanced views note treatment underutilization—only severe cases captured—urging screening expansions.

Experts from UMIT TIROL highlight imputation challenges, calling for pan-European databases hosted at universities.

Case Studies: Universities Making a Difference

At Ghent University, neurology departments run student sleep clinics, reducing insomnia by 20% via group therapy. Grenoble Alpes University's neuroscience labs pioneer OSA diagnostics, informing COIN-EU models. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences integrates sleep modules in medical training, addressing 10% insomnia rates.

Future Outlook: Research and Policy Directions

Upcoming university projects aim to fill gaps: DALYs, middle-income data, post-2026 updates. Horizon Europe funds AI-driven sleep trackers from Leiden and Vienna. Policymakers eye national strategies, with unis leading pilots.

Actionable insights for higher ed: Mandate sleep education, subsidize CBT-I, monitor via apps. By 2030, targeted interventions could reclaim €100B+ in productivity.

Photo by Elvis Bekmanis on Unsplash

Practical Steps for Students and Institutions

Students: Maintain 7-9 hours nightly, limit caffeine post-noon, create dark sleep environments. Institutions: Offer late-night gym access? No—promote wind-down routines.

• Implement university-wide sleep audits.
• Partner with ESRS for training.
• Track GPA correlations via anonymized data.
• Advocate for EU sleep health directives.

For deeper dives, explore the European Sleep Foundation summary.