Parasomnia due to a medication or substance is suspected when symptoms occur temporally in relation to exposure to an exogenous substance, such as a drug, and improve upon discontinuation of the exposure. Zolpidem is among the most commonly prescribed medications for insomnia in Korea. However, parasomnia has sometimes been reported to occur post its usage. Here, we present two cases of patients taking zolpidem for insomnia who experienced dangerous events while asleep that they did not recall upon waking. The nature of these events was so perilous that they posed a threat to the patients’ lives. While one patient sustained a bodily injury, the other was at risk of a potentially fatal injury. However, these parasomnias did not recur after discontinuation of zolpidem.

Parasomnia due to a medication or substance is suspected when symptoms occur temporally in relation to exposure to an exogenous substance, such as a drug, and improve upon discontinuation of the exposure. Zolpidem is among the most commonly prescribed medications for insomnia in Korea. However, parasomnia has sometimes been reported to occur post its usage. Here, we present two cases of patients taking zolpidem for insomnia who experienced dangerous events while asleep that they did not recall upon waking. The nature of these events was so perilous that they posed a threat to the patients’ lives. While one patient sustained a bodily injury, the other was at risk of a potentially fatal injury. However, these parasomnias did not recur after discontinuation of zolpidem.

Parasomnia due to a medication or substance is suspected when symptoms occur temporally in relation to exposure to an exogenous substance, such as a drug, and improve upon discontinuation of the exposure. Zolpidem is among the most commonly prescribed medications for insomnia in Korea. However, parasomnia has sometimes been reported to occur post its usage. Here, we present two cases of patients taking zolpidem for insomnia who experienced dangerous events while asleep that they did not recall upon waking. The nature of these events was so perilous that they posed a threat to the patients’ lives. While one patient sustained a bodily injury, the other was at risk of a potentially fatal injury. However, these parasomnias did not recur after discontinuation of zolpidem.

Hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure (HMERF) is characterized by early respiratory insufficiency which is inappropriate to the degree of limb muscle weakness. Recently, mutation in TTN gene was found in HMERF patients with the aid of gene sequencing. We describe the first case presenting with distal leg weakness and early respiratory failure confirmed by TTN gene mutation in Korea.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate relationship of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with chronotype along with quality and quantity of sleep in Korean middle adults. Methods: Data was derived from the nationwide, cross-sectional study on sleep surveyed 2,501 representative adult Koreans. We collected data from 1,435 participants aged ≥35 years and <65 years to represent Korean middle adults. The Chronotype Questionnaire was used to assess phase and distinctiveness of the circadian rhythm. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality. Quantity of sleep was investigated by questions regarding sleep habits during workdays and free days. EuroQol-5D 3-level version was used to measure HRQoL. Results: On univariable analyses, eveningness is associated with younger age (47.7±8.2 vs. 51.3±8.1 years, p<0.001), and higher PSQI total score (4.3±2.7 vs. 3.6±2.2, p<0.001) compared with morningness. Strong distinctiveness also associated with higher PSQI total score (4.2±2.3 vs. 3.6±2.5, p< 0.001) compared with weak distinctiveness. Age was not different between the two groups of distinctiveness. On multivariable analyses, strong distinctiveness is an independent factor predicting impairment of pain/discomfort [odd ratio (OR) 1.589, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.182–2.130] and depression/anxiety (OR 1.412, 95% CI 1.003–1.987). Poor sleep quality was the most powerful independent factor predicting impairments in all five domains of the HRQoL. Conclusions Sleep quality is an important factor independently related to the HRQoL. Among chronotype variables, only distinctiveness has an independent relation with the HRQoL.