Inadequate sleep and sleep disorders represent a major global health problem. They contribute to poor quality of life, rising healthcare costs, and increased medical leave. One of the most common, yet severely underdiagnosed, disorders is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Its symptoms and effects include cardiovascular disease and memory deterioration.
A 2021 study reported that the lifetime prevalence of OSA ranges between 9% and 38%. However, between 80% and 90% of cases remain undiagnosed, meaning that most patients do not even know they have it.
One major reason for this gap is the perception that in-lab polysomnography (PSG) is the only diagnostic standard. PSG is complex, expensive, and unavailable to most of the population. Adding to this challenge is the ongoing shortage of physicians, which creates an urgent need to leverage technology to meet demand, provide clinical support, and monitor patients living with OSA.
Technological Developments in Sleep Disorder Care
A recent study by STAR (Sleep Technology and Analytics Research) at the University of Eastern Finland analyzed future trends in sleep measurement technology. Given the high costs and limited availability of in-lab polysomnography, new alternatives are emerging, such as simplified at-home sleep testing.
Advances in measurement and analysis, powered by AI algorithms, now enable evaluations that are simpler, more efficient, and widely accessible, without compromising diagnostic accuracy.
Sleep apnea affects people of all sexes, ages, body types, and backgrounds. By encouraging undiagnosed individuals to undergo testing, these new technologies have the potential to make a tremendous impact on public health.
For those unknowingly living with obstructive sleep apnea, at-home digital monitoring solutions enable early detection and assessment of the disease. They also help prevent severe complications such as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Additionally, they allow for ongoing follow-up of apnea, a disorder that tends to worsen over time.
Thanks to technological progress, diagnosing and treating sleep apnea is now easier than ever. These tools support therapy monitoring, adherence tracking, results analysis, and treatment adjustments, giving healthcare practitioners greater capacity to deliver personalized care. At-home testing also provides real-life sleep data in a natural environment, generating more consistent and authentic information. As the benefits of at-home sleep apnea diagnosis and follow-up gain recognition, this technological revolution will continue expanding and transforming the way OSA is treated.
In this way, solutions are becoming more accessible for those who need them, allowing millions of patients around the world to live healthier, more comfortable lives.
That is our purpose: to democratize sleep testing and make it accessible to everyone.
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