U. S. researchers have found that people who suffer from chronic insomnia may have a higher risk than others of dying.

According to official reports, lead author Laurel Finn, a biostatistician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the study indicated the adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was three times higher in people with chronic insomnia than in people who report no insomnia.

Chronic insomnia was defined as insomnia symptoms on at least two of the surveys. In the follow-up period of 19 years, 128 participants had died.

It was also reported that the estimated mortality hazard ratios were adjusted for weight, age and sex, as well as for self-reported conditions including chronic bronchitis, heart attack, stroke, hypertension, diabetes and depression.

Finn said in a statement, "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." (With Inputs from Agencies)