Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2015 Sep 8;1(1):17-27.
doi: 10.1016/j.wjorl.2015.08.001. eCollection 2015 Sep.

Clinical consequences and economic costs of untreated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Melissa Knauert  1 , Sreelatha Naik  1 , M Boyd Gillespie  2 , Meir Kryger  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Clinical consequences and economic costs of untreated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Melissa Knauert et al. World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. .

Abstract

Objective: To provide an overview of the healthcare and societal consequences and costs of untreated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Data sources: PubMed database for English-language studies with no start date restrictions and with an end date of September 2014.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify all studies that discussed the physiologic, clinical and societal consequences of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome as well as the costs associated with these consequences. There were 106 studies that formed the basis of this analysis.

Conclusions: Undiagnosed and untreated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome can lead to abnormal physiology that can have serious implications including increased cardiovascular disease, stroke, metabolic disease, excessive daytime sleepiness, work-place errors, traffic accidents and death. These consequences result in significant economic burden. Both, the health and societal consequences and their costs can be decreased with identification and treatment of sleep apnea.

Implications for practice: Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, despite its consequences, is limited by lack of diagnosis, poor patient acceptance, lack of access to effective therapies, and lack of a variety of effective therapies. Newer modes of therapy that are effective, cost efficient and more accepted by patients need to be developed.

Keywords: Continuous positive airway pressure; Cost; Mandibular advancement device; Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Increased risk in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Health plan costs for treated drivers.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Percent of drivers taking short term disability leave.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Young T., Palta M., Dempsey J. The occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing among middle-aged adults. N Engl J Med. 1993;328:1230–1235. - PubMed
    1. Young T., Palta M., Dempsey J. Burden of sleep apnea: rationale, design, and major findings of the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort study. WMJ – Off Publ State Med Soc Wis. 2009;108:246–249. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Peppard P.E., Young T., Palta M. Prospective study of the association between sleep-disordered breathing and hypertension. N Engl J Med. 2000;342:1378–1384. - PubMed
    1. Nieto F.J., Young T.B., Lind B.K. Association of sleep-disordered breathing, sleep apnea, and hypertension in a large community-based study. Sleep Heart Health Study. JAMA – J Am Med Assoc. 2000;283:1829–1836. - PubMed
    1. Phillips C.L., O'Driscoll D.M. Hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea. Nat Sci Sleep. 2013;5:43–52. - PMC - PubMed