Introduction: sleep disorders (SD) are a major cause of medical consultation and physical and mental morbidity, and can affect individuals of any age or socioeconomic status. However, there is little information on their prevalence and impact on different aspects of people’s lives. In Colombia there has not been enough research in this fi eld, and therefore there is no fi rst-hand information allowing the implementation of policies for prevention and management. Previous Colombian neuroepidemiological studies using WHO methodology have not addressed these important pathological conditions. A study of neurological disorders carried out by our group in 2004 showed a high prevalence of symptoms of insomnia in the community. This prompted this investigation, which is targeted exclusively on SD. Aim: to determine the frequency, sociodemographic characteristics, and impact of SD in a community in the center of the department of Caldas. Subjects and Methods: we performed a transversal study on a previously studied population, older than 7 years, by household survey in the cities of Manizales, Neira and Villamaria. The statisti