This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Cost of undiagnosed sleep apnea in U.S. nearly $150 billion

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine released a pair of white papers suggesting that the burden of undiagnosed sleep apnea among adults is costing the United States approximately $149.6 billion every year in lost productivity and automobile and workplace accidents.

The papers — an analysis titled “Hidden Health Crisis Costing America Billions,” and a companion report, “In an Age of Constant Activity, the Solution to Improving the Nation’s Health May Lie in Helping It Sleep Better” — also calculate that undiagnosed sleep apnea costs the United States $30 billion each year in increased health care use and medication costs related to comorbid risks. These include hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and depression.

“Patients often report that they feel like a new person after receiving treatment for sleep apnea,” Ronald Chervin, MD, MS, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), said in a press release. “Restoring and maintaining healthy sleep is essential for the achievement of optimal health. We encourage people to seek care from a board-certified sleep medicine physician if they experience any symptoms of a sleep disorder.”

The estimated costs that are a result of undiagnosed sleep apnea, according to the papers, include $86.9 billion in lost productivity, $26.2 billion in motor vehicle accidents and $6.5 billion in workplace accidents, the papers note.

Both reports were commissioned by the AASM and prepared by the global research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, which estimated that 29.4 million people in the United States, or about 12% of the total population, suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.

According to Frost & Sullivan, diagnosing and treating every patient in the United States who has sleep apnea would save approximately $100.1 billion annually.

To prepare their analysis, the firm interviewed key opinion leaders with specialties in economics, sleep medicine, productivity, mental health and accidents. In addition, the research team reviewed more than 100 studies on the impact of sleep apnea and constructed financial models that also took into account results from a survey of 506 patients currently being treated for obstructive sleep apnea, as well as treatment fees drawn from CMS fee schedules and other public sources.

The companion report was based on the survey of 506 patients, which indicated that patients who receive treatment for sleep apnea benefit from a variety of health and quality of life improvements, including better sleep, greater productivity and a 40% decline in workplace absences. In addition, approximately 78% of patients reported that treatment for sleep apnea had been a good investment.

In a related editorial published in the Journal of Sleep Medicine, Nathaniel F. Watson, MD, MSc, former AASM president, said the papers support more aggressive and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment programs.

“Therefore, AASM will be sharing these reports with federal policy makers, public and private payers, and large employers to advocate for the field of sleep medicine, and we will be using the findings in our public relations efforts to raise awareness of the importance — and benefits — of [obstructive sleep apnea] diagnosis and treatment,” Watson wrote. “AASM members, other sleep medicine professionals, and sleep apnea patients and advocates are urged to support this effort.”

Additional reading:

http://www.aasmnet.org/sleep-apnea-economic-impact.aspx

Disclosure: Watson reports no relevant financial disclosures.