The Lancet Publishes: More Than 936 Million Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea Worldwide
10 July 2019 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
- Updated prevalence nearly 10 times greater than WHO’s 2007
estimate of more than 100 million
- Untreated obstructive sleep apnea can lead to “major
neurocognitive and cardiovascular” conditions, as well as high
economic and societal costs, study says
- ResMed-led analysis of data from 193 countries, using data
from the World Health Organization, and United Nations World
Population Prospects
More than 936 million people have obstructive sleep apnea – the
disease’s first prevalence update in more than a decade – according
to The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, the world’s leading journal in
its field.
The Lancet today published a multinational analysis by ResMed
(NYSE: RMD) (ASX: RMD) and 12 academic leaders in sleep research.
The results were first presented at the ATS 2018 International
Conference in San Diego.
This figure is nearly 10 times greater than the World Health
Organization’s 2007 estimate of more than 100 million, renewing
calls for physicians to step up their efforts to screen, diagnose,
and prescribe treatment for those who unknowingly suffer.
“More than 85 percent of sleep apnea patients are undiagnosed,
meaning hundreds of millions repeatedly suffocate instead of
getting healthy, restful sleep each night,” said Carlos M. Nunez,
M.D., a study coauthor and ResMed’s chief medical officer. “This
raises their risk of workplace and roadway accidents, and can
contribute to other significant health problems, such as
hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or even poor glucose control
for diabetic patients. We know the risks, and now we know the size
of the problem is nearly 10 times greater than previously thought.
Addressing it starts with screening patients we know to be
high-risk.”
Why is sleep apnea mostly undiagnosed?
Sufferers often don’t know they’re suffering. They’ll stop
breathing for 10 seconds or more throughout the night – called an
“apnea” – and repeatedly wake to breathe and prevent suffocation.
They rarely remember waking, but the disruptive cycle causes
chronic sleep deprivation.
“Many will attribute the resulting tiredness to aging or
stress,” said Nunez. “Others will mention the problem to their
doctor, only to be misdiagnosed with insomnia, migraines, chronic
fatigue, or other conditions. Misdiagnosis is especially common
with women, since sleep apnea was long thought to be much more
common in men.”
Today, women account for 40 percent of newly diagnosed sleep
apnea patients.
Another reason many suffer unknowingly can be blamed on cultural
ideas of what constitutes good sleep.
“For instance, some believe snoring may simply be a normal
feature of how some people sleep, when in fact it’s one of the most
important signs for the risk of having sleep apnea,” Nunez said.
“With a global prevalence that approaches 1 billion people,
patients and physicians need to consider the risks and ask the
questions that may ultimately help them sleep and live better. This
is no longer a problem that can be treated lightly or ignored.”
Who is at risk for sleep apnea?
More than half of all people with obesity, heart failure, stroke
or transient ischemic attack (TIA), atrial fibrillation, or type 2
diabetes also have sleep apnea, according to leading research.
Snoring is the number-one indicator of sleep apnea in men and
women, though not everyone who snores has it – and not everyone who
has it snores.
People told they stop breathing for long periods during sleep
are also at a higher risk for the disorder.
“The bottom line is: If you’re constantly tired or have other
conditions linked to sleep apnea, it never hurts to ask your doctor
about it,” said Nunez. “Don’t settle for being tired all the time.
Sleep apnea is 100 percent treatable. You can improve your sleep,
your mood, your relationships at work and home, your health,
perhaps even other medical conditions you’re managing. But first,
you have to find out.”
About ResMed
At ResMed (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD) we pioneer innovative solutions
that treat and keep people out of the hospital, empowering them to
live healthier, higher-quality lives. Our cloud-connected medical
devices transform care for people with sleep apnea, COPD and other
chronic diseases. Our comprehensive out-of-hospital software
platforms support the professionals and caregivers who help people
stay healthy in the home or care setting of their choice. By
enabling better care, we improve quality of life, reduce the impact
of chronic disease and lower costs for consumers and healthcare
systems in more than 120 countries. To learn more, visit ResMed.com
and follow @ResMed.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190709005849/en/
For media Jayme Rubenstein +1 858.836.6798
news@resmed.com
For investors Amy Wakeham +1 858.836.5000
investorrelations@resmed.com
Resmed (ASX:RMD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
Resmed (ASX:RMD)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024