Dental Sleep Medicine Insider April 2016 | Page 20

THE ECONOMIC TOLL OF OSA BY DR. JITEN MASTER I n 2014, the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project estimated that OSA affects at least 25 million US adults, between the ages of 30 and 70, and that number is rising. Other studies have higher estimates. The problem of accuracy lies in the fact that so many sufferers are undiagnosed; the Cleveland Clinic estimating 80 % of OSA sufferers are undiagnosed (2013). "OSA affects at least 25 million US adults, between the ages of 30 and 70, and that number is rising.” The staggering costs related to the widespread effects of untreated OSA are not just limited to the worsening of chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, Type II Diabetes, stroke, obesity and depression. Without looking at the 15 fold increase of being involved in a traffic accident (Horstmann, 2000) and the increased risk of work related injury and disability (Sjorsten 2002), several studies show the severity of the problem: In a comparison of number of nights hospitalized in the 2 years prior to diagnosis between a group of 97 OSA sufferers, compared to a matched control group of 90, the OSA group was hospitalized 251 nights vs. 90 nights for the control group, with the OSA group costing over twice as much in billed physician services (Kryger, 1994). In a similar cost comparison study between undiagnosed OSA sufferers in the year before diagnosis, and a control group, the OSA group cost $2720 vs. $1384 for the control group, double the costs (Kapur, 1999). That same study estimated that “untreated Sleep Apnea may cause $3.4 billion in additional medical costs in the U.S..” "With obesity rates increasing, along with an aging population, OSA will continue to be a significant problem." Smith et al (Chest, 2002) found “that SA patients used 23 - 50% more [healthcare related] resources in the 5 years prior to diagnosis than did control subjects”, finding that these patients are at higher risk for hypertension, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiovascular disease, JITEN MASTER, D.D.S. Chief Operating Officer Blackstone Medical Services Home Sleep Testing service provider 888-710-2727 [email protected] chronic obstructive airways disease and depression, leading to the increased health-care utilization. With obesity rates increasing, along with an aging population, OSA will continue to be a significant problem. Dentists trained in the screening, testing and management of Sleep Apnea, in conjunction with the patient’s physician, can make a significant contribution to reducing the overall societal and financial burden. 20