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| CPAP as a medical tool for therapy (image credite to wikimedia.org) |
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of adults worldwide. Recent research highlights its significance, especially among older adults. Let’s explore how sleep apnea can impact health care utilization and what steps individuals can take to manage it effectively.
A study presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting revealed a crucial link between sleep apnea and future health care services utilization. Researchers found that older adults (aged 50 years and above) with sleep apnea had a 21% higher odds of using health services compared to those without sleep apnea. Specifically, hospitalization rates were significantly higher among individuals with sleep apnea, even after accounting for other factors like demographics, body mass index, and health conditions.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
What is sleep apnea? it is a chronic condition characterized by repeated upper airway collapse during sleep. This condition disrupts breathing patterns, leading to poor sleep quality and potential health risks. There are many severe sleep apnea disorders with several medical problems, including:
- Hypertension
- Coronary artery disease
- Atrial fibrillation
- Stroke
- Type 2 Diabetes
So, how do we treat ourselves about sleep apnea?
The first thing is know the signs whether we have this condition or not. The conditions are loud snoring, choking, or gasping during sleep, you should consult to a doctor because these could be signs of sleep apnea.
If diagnosed with sleep apnea, you should follow your doctor's recommendations. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, and positional therapy.
The first thing is know the signs whether we have this condition or not. The conditions are loud snoring, choking, or gasping during sleep, you should consult to a doctor because these could be signs of sleep apnea.
If diagnosed with sleep apnea, you should follow your doctor's recommendations. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, and positional therapy.
The researchers analyzed data from 20,115 participants in the 2016 and 2018 Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative cohort of middle-aged and older adults in the U.S. Participants were surveyed about sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, in 2016 and their subsequent use of health services in 2018. Nearly 12% of participants reported being told by a doctor that they have sleep apnea.
Kaufmann emphasized the need for timely identification and management of sleep apnea in older adults to mitigate its downstream effects on health care utilization. “Addressing sleep apnea can not only improve individual health outcomes but also alleviate the strain on health care resources, leading to more efficient and effective health care delivery,” said one of the authors.
References:
Association Between Sleep Apnea and Health Service Utilization: Results from the Health and Retirement Study
https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsae067.01083