Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a serious condition when breathing is interrupted throughout the sleep cycle. It is estimated that over 900 million people worldwide suffer from OSA, more than 10 times the previous estimate, according to data presented by ResMed. The illness is often associated with its two most common symptoms, snoring and daytime sleepiness. Often overlooked is that Obstructive Sleep Apnea has chronic comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. By successfully treating OSA and its related myriad of serious health issues, you improve the quality of sleep and quality of life.

Understanding how Obstructive Sleep Apnea affects the body helps to understand what happens during a sleep apnea event. The lapses in breathing that characterize OSA occur due to the relaxing and collapse of the muscles surrounding the upper airway. These lapses typically last between 10 to 20 seconds and repeatedly occur throughout the night. When breathing stops, oxygen levels in the blood drop. Our bodies respond by releasing the stress hormone epinephrine, more commonly known as adrenaline. This "fight or flight" response elevates the heart rate and can lead to high blood pressure. The heart becomes less efficient at pumping blood. According to the American College of Cardiology, patients with OSA are four times more likely to have abnormal heart rhythms, including atrial fibrillation. They are two times more likely to have a heart attack.

Diabetes is another chronic illness that has a reciprocal relationship with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 25 million Americans aged 20 years and older have diabetes. Seven in 10 people with the most common type of diabetes, known as Type 2, also have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Conversely, according to Physician's Weekly, having OSA has been associated with insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Because of the increasing body of evidence linking the two conditions, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends all Type 2 diabetes patients be tested for sleep apnea. The positive news regarding OSA treatment is that by treating this sleep health condition, you are also treating its underlying comorbidities.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), considered the gold standard in treatment for OSA, has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events as well as AFib recurrence. A study from the Sleep, Metabolism and Health Center at the University of Chicago suggests CPAP therapy is an important factor in reducing glucose levels in Type 2 diabetics who have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. By reducing the stress hormones released during an apnea event, CPAP helps in the overall control of blood sugar levels, according to studies conducted at John's Hopkins University. Obtaining optimal health and wellness is the goal of sleep apnea treatment, but there is an economic upside as well. According to the medical journal Sleep, untreated OSA patients average 32% more hospital admissions than those undergoing treatment. With comorbidities as serious as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension, it is no surprise that OSA patients utilize more healthcare resources and tax the healthcare system. A recent study that appeared in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine revealed that patients with untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea had increased health care utilization (HCU) and costs across all points of service.

 The challenge to screening, diagnosing, and treating OSA has been the lack of an all-encompassing sleep care solution that is both efficient and cost-effective. BetterNight offers a comprehensive program that takes the patient from initial screening to diagnosis and treatment, all in the comfort and safety of their home. BetterNight offers a support network of sleep specialists who work directly with patients and their doctors. This community of care connects all the medical specialists who may be treating an OSA patient who suffers from other chronic comorbidities. By successfully treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea, there are significant cost savings throughout the healthcare system, but ultimately these positive economic outcomes are secondary to creating positive long-term patient outcomes.

Interested in how BetterNight can improve the treatment of chronic conditions in your health system? Contact us today at sales@betternight.com