To estimate the economic impact of untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on workplace productivity in the US and UK.
Key Findings:
Estimated annual productivity losses of $180.2 billion in the US and £4.22 billion in the UK due to untreated OSA.
Prevalence of OSA syndrome was 22.8% in the US and 19.5% in the UK, with nearly 30% of US adults aged 18-64 affected.
Annual productivity loss per affected worker was $3727.40 in the US and approximately £1840 in the UK.
Interpretation:
The findings indicate significant economic losses associated with untreated OSA, emphasizing the need for improved diagnosis and treatment adherence.
Limitations:
Diagnosis based on symptom-based proxies rather than objective testing may lead to misclassification.
Analysis did not account for additional healthcare costs, accident-related expenses, or long-term disability.
Conclusion:
The study underscores the importance of identifying undiagnosed or untreated OSA in working-age adults and suggests that symptom-based screening could be beneficial.
