Neglected Burden of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Workplace Productivity Loss in the USA and UK

Umar Rehman, Yuju Ahn, Erez Yerushalmi, Mohamed Ali Abdelwahab, Nicholas J. Eynon-Lewis, Jacklyn J. W. Liu, Liam Sutton, Floyd Christopher Holsinger, Robson Capasso, Marie-Lise Côté, et al.

ResearchPosted on rand.org Mar 11, 2026Published in: BMJ Journals (2026) DOI: 10.1136/thorax-2025-223550

This study estimates the prevalence and workplace productivity burden of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) syndrome in the UK and USA, using self-reported breathing pauses and excessive daytime sleepiness as a proxy. The prevalence of OSA syndrome was 22.8% in the USA and 19.5% in the UK. Annual productivity losses were estimated at US$180.2 billion in the USA and £4.22 billion in the UK. In the UK and USA, individual-level productivity losses exceeded the cost of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, suggesting that improved identification, access to treatment and adherence could yield significant economic benefits in both countries.

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Document Details

  • Copyright: Umar Rehman, Yuju Ahn, Erez Yerushalmi, Mohamed Abdelwahab, Nicholas Eynon-Lewis, Jacklyn Liu, Liam Sutton, F. Christopher Holsinger, Robson Capasso, Marie-LiseCôté, Ryan Chin Taw Cheong, Bhik Kotecha, Maurice M. Ohayon, Marco Hafner, Matt Lechner
  • Publisher: BMJ Group
  • Availability: Non-RAND
  • Year: 2026
  • Pages: 3
  • Document Number: EP-71265

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