A new study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has revealed that approximately 104 million (10.4 crore) Indians of working age may be suffering from the Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
According to the study done by researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, about 11 per cent Indian adults suffer from OSA, with men at higher risk (13 per cent) compared to women (5 per cent).
The findings of the study were published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews. According to experts, this common sleep disorder is linked with “considerable morbidity”.
“However, there is an underrepresentation of data from India and other developing countries in global reviews of OSA prevalence. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the prevalence of OSA in India,” said the team of researchers led by Dr Anant Mohan, professor and head of pulmonology department at AIIMS as quoted by IANS.
According to Dr. Sibasish Dey, Head, Medical Affairs, South Asia, ResMed, sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that is caused due to repeated upper airway closure that cause breathing to cease for a few seconds, this phenomenon may occur throughout the night.
“The recent findings of researchers at AIIMS New Delhi stating that 104 million Indians of working age may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea is indicative of the increasing burden of this disease in our country. Obstructive sleep apnea has been associated with concerning outcomes such as anxiety, depression, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus,” Dr. Dey said in a statement.
Dr. Dey reveals that one of the biggest challenges with this disorder is its lack of awareness because of which people continue to suffer without proper diagnosis and treatment.
“There are many symptoms of sleep apnea such as snoring, fatigue, day-time sleepiness, mood swings, lack of focus and so on. ResMed a key player in medical devices segment, found that 58 per cent of Indians consider snoring as a good sign of sleep. This is a testimony to the fact that the concept of snoring is clouded with a lot of myths, making people assume that it is a normal occurrence whereas it could pose serious health concerns,” he stated.
As sleep apnea also impacts cognitive functions and is associated with daytime sleepiness, it may lead to road accidents, he said.
“Unfortunately, due to low levels of awareness, there is little to no inclusion of sleep disorders and its domiciliary medical device-associated treatment in health insurance or policies. As a way forward, sleep health must be advocated for and included in policies to give it its due importance. Also, people should also be proactive in seeking medical solutions to their sleep related problems if they experience any of the symptoms and should consult sleep physicians,” he revealed.
What are the symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness.
- Loud snoring.
- Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep.
- Waking during the night and gasping or choking.
- Awakening in the morning with a dry mouth or sore throat.
- Morning headaches.
- Trouble focusing during the day.
- Mood changes, such as depression or being easily upset.
- High blood pressure.
- Decreased interest in sex.
When to see a doctor?
According to the Mayo Clinic, you consult a doctor if you start experiencing the following:
- Loud snoring
- Waking up gasping or choking
- Pauses in breathing while sleeping
- Excessive daytime drowsiness