The Economic Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
OSA is a chronic disease affecting the daily lives of millions around the world. Untreated OSA can lead to about a two-fold increase in medical expenses because of CVD morbidity. Specifically, the upper third of the costliest patients are also the sickest OSA patients in each population stratum. These subgroups of patients consume 65–82% of all OSA patients' costs. Healthcare markets are characterized by limited resources. Therefore, the unique group of 'most costly' should become the main target for decision makers, to better allocate scarce resources and to focus on early diagnosis and treatment of these groups. There are a limited number of studies exploring the effect of CPAP on medical costs and this important area requires further investigation. Identifying barriers to CPAP adherence will enable the development of effective interventions tailored to improve treatment, especially in the costliest and sickest at-risk populations that consume the most medical resources.
Conclusion
OSA is a chronic disease affecting the daily lives of millions around the world. Untreated OSA can lead to about a two-fold increase in medical expenses because of CVD morbidity. Specifically, the upper third of the costliest patients are also the sickest OSA patients in each population stratum. These subgroups of patients consume 65–82% of all OSA patients' costs. Healthcare markets are characterized by limited resources. Therefore, the unique group of 'most costly' should become the main target for decision makers, to better allocate scarce resources and to focus on early diagnosis and treatment of these groups. There are a limited number of studies exploring the effect of CPAP on medical costs and this important area requires further investigation. Identifying barriers to CPAP adherence will enable the development of effective interventions tailored to improve treatment, especially in the costliest and sickest at-risk populations that consume the most medical resources.
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