Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be associated with substantial workplace productivity losses in the US and the UK, according to a short report published in Thorax. The authors estimate that untreated OSA syndrome is linked to annual productivity losses of $180.2 billion in the US and £4.22 billion in the UK.
OSA is characterized by repeated upper airway obstruction during sleep, resulting in breathing pauses and excessive daytime sleepiness. Although global prevalence estimates are high, diagnosis and treatment rates remain low, and adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is often suboptimal.
The study analyzed survey data collected in November 2021 from nationally representative adult populations in both countries. After exclusions, 3,523 respondents in the US and 840 in the UK were included. OSA syndrome was defined using self-reported breathing pauses during sleep combined with excessive daytime sleepiness occurring at least three times per week, consistent with core diagnostic criteria.
Based on these criteria, estimated prevalence of OSA syndrome was 22.8 percent in the US and 19.5 percent in the UK. Among adults aged 18 to 64 years, nearly 30 percent of US respondents and 7 percent of UK respondents met the study definition.
To assess economic impact, the investigators used a computable general equilibrium macroeconomic model to estimate productivity losses related to absenteeism and reduced on-the-job performance. The estimated annual productivity loss per affected worker was $3727.40 in the US and approximately £1840 in the UK. In both countries, these figures exceeded reported annual per-patient costs of CPAP therapy.
The analysis did not include additional health care costs, accident-related expenses, or long-term disability, suggesting the overall burden may be underestimated. The authors also acknowledge that OSA was identified using symptom-based proxies rather than objective testing, introducing potential misclassification.
The findings highlight the scale of possible undiagnosed or untreated OSA in working-age adults. Objective sleep testing remains essential for diagnosis, but symptom-based screening may help identify individuals at risk in clinical practice.
Source: Thorax
