Obstructive sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed, becomes more common, and can lead to decreased quality of life.
How common is obstructive sleep apnea?
As about 80% of patients do not consult a doctor, the true frequency of the disease can only be estimated through population screenings.
While older studies reported rates around 10%, a study in Switzerland found obstructive sleep apnea in 23.4% of women and 49.7% of men.