More than four of every five people with OSA have two or more comorbidities,1 and people with OSA who have any comorbidity are more than ten times more likely to die than those without comorbidities.2 The growing understanding of the relationship between comorbidities and OSA is reflected in the number of research papers on this topic, which has increased by more than fourfold over the last 20 years.1
The list of conditions that common in patients with OSA is long, and each condition can be made worse by OSA. These include obesity,3 hypertension,4 cardiovascular diseases,5 type 2 diabetes,6 depression,7,8 anxiety,8 and respiratory conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and asthma.9 Men with OSA often have diabetes and coronary artery disease, while hypertension and depression are more common in women.1,10
OSA is a chronic condition that needs long-term multidisciplinary management,11 and treating OSA is an important part of holistic patient care. As the leading treatment for moderate to severe OSA and an option for mild OSA, positive airway pressure (PAP) is highly effective at reducing or eliminating sleep-disordered breathing events from the first day of treatment. The protective effects of PAP appear to be particularly relevant in patients with comorbidities, are seen in older individuals.12-15
Beyond the symptomatic management of OSA, the patient benefits of PAP therapy include:
These specific patient benefits also have positive impacts on health economics. Whether through PAP therapy, lifestyle changes, other medical interventions or a combination of these, the wide-ranging value of treating OSA underscores the significant role that effective management of this condition plays in enhancing overall health and quality of life.
Many people may be unaware of the inter-relationship between OSA and other health conditions. This lack of awareness may influence their decision to focus on what feels like the more “critical” conditions, leaving their OSA untreated. Educating patients about the benefit of treating OSA on comorbidities can provide them with the opportunity to improve not just one, but two or more, conditions at the same time.