A new study has disclosed that people suffering from chronic insomnia have an increased risk of death.

Laurel Finn, a biostatistician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, stated, "The most surprising result was the increased high risk for mortality among individuals with chronic insomnia versus those without insomnia."

"The other important finding was the non-differentiation between subtypes of insomnia with respect to mortality risk," Finn added.

The Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study comprised 2,242 partakers, who completed two to three mailed surveys for 1989, 1994 and 2000.

Study partakers were considered to have chronic insomnia if they reported insomnia symptoms on at least two of the surveys.

A social security death index search during the last month (May 2010) determined that 128 study participants lost their lives during a follow-up period of around 19 years.

Estimated fatality hazard ratios were adjusted for BMI, age and sex plus for self-reported medical conditions, which include chronic bronchitis, coronoty failure, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and depressive disorder.

Laurel also said that the study outcomes emphasize the need for doctors to provide effective treatments for insomnia.

"Insomnia is a burdensome symptom and has a negative impact on sleep quality that may lead people to seek treatment. The identification of insomnia as a mortality risk factor may have clinical implications and raise the priority level for insomnia treatment," Finn added.

These findings were presented Monday at SLEEP 2010, the ongoing annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in San Antonio, Texas. (With Inputs from Agencies)