Frost & Sullivan OSA White Papers-In an Age of Constant Activity, the Solution to Improving the Nation's Health May Lie in Helping it Sleep Better

In an Age of Constant Activity, the Solution to Improving the Nation's Health May Lie in Helping it Sleep Better

Pdf Summary

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious and life-threatening sleep disorder that affects almost 30 million Americans, with 80% of cases remaining undiagnosed. The economic burden of undiagnosed and untreated OSA costs the United States billions of dollars each year. Patients with OSA experience a decrease in quality of sleep, which impacts their overall quality of life, comorbidity conditions, mental health, and substance abuse. Treating OSA leads to improvements in sleep quality and quality of life, as well as reductions in comorbidities such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Patients who undergo treatment for OSA also experience improvements in productivity and fewer absences from work. Additionally, treating OSA can reduce the risk of accidents and distractions, leading to cost savings for individuals, employers, and the healthcare system. Despite the benefits of treating OSA, there are barriers to diagnosing and treating the condition, such as low awareness among patients and healthcare providers. To address the under-treatment of OSA, stakeholders in the healthcare system should prioritize aggressive diagnosis and treatment programs, improve education for providers and patients, and invest in healthcare initiatives that reward prevention and cost-avoidance.

Asset Subtitle

What Benefits Do Patients Experience in Treating their Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Keywords

Obstructive sleep apnea

OSA

sleep disorder

undiagnosed cases

economic burden

quality of sleep

comorbidity conditions

mental health

substance abuse

treatment for OSA