Demographics of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the United States 2004-2020

Monday, October 2, 2023

8:12 AM - 8:18 AM East Coast USA Time

Location: 103A

Presenting Author(s)

Thomaz Fleury Curado, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, OH, United States

Co-Author(s)

Mohamed A. Abdelwahab, MD

Assistant Professor
MUSC
Charleston, SC, United States
AH

Allen Huang
FO

Flavio Oliveira, MD

Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, USA
NH

Nelson S. Howard, MD, MBA, FACS

Laryngology
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center/Case Western
Beachwood, OH, United States
SM

Sandro Marques

Senior Author(s)

Robson Capasso, MD

Professor, Associate Dean
Stanford University
Stanford, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):

Mohamed Abdelwahab, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.

Nelson S. Howard, MD, MBA, FACS: No relevant relationships to disclose.

Robson Capasso, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.

Introduction: This study’s objectives were to determine, based on a robust proprietary health care database, the volume, types, and trends for surgical procedures offered to treat OSA to include ethnic heterogeneity at a national level.

Methods: Retrospective, population-based observational longitudinal cohort study from January 2004 to December 2020. Optum Clinformatics® Data Mart was queried to identify participants diagnosed with OSA between 18 and 89 years old who were treated either with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or underwent surgical procedures. Patients without gender definition were excluded.

Results: 1,250,273 individuals were diagnosed with OSA from January 2004 to December 2020. Mean age at time of OSA diagnosis was 62 years (SD=16). Male and Caucasian predominance of about 61.3% & 75% respectively. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty was the most common surgical procedure to treat OSA. The diagnosis of OSA increased over time while the percentage of patients treated by surgical procedures has decreased, particularly in specific racial subgroups.

Conclusions: The national population-based database shows trends showing reduced surgery overall and discrepancies related to racial, ethnic, and socio-economic factors in the medical treatment regarding OSA. Specifically, ethnic minorities are likely less to receive surgical treatment options for OSA.