Sleep Apnea - Epidemiology Forecast - 2034
Description
Key Highlights
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, leading to disrupted rest and imbalanced oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
It manifests in three primary forms: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA), and complex sleep apnea. OSA—the most common type—results from partial or complete upper airway blockage, while CSA stems from disrupted signalling in the brain’s respiratory control center, particularly the pre-Bötzinger complex. Complex sleep apnea exhibits features of both OSA and CSA.
OSA accounts for the overwhelming majority of diagnosed sleep apnea cases, with an estimated 200 million individuals affected across the 7MM in 2024.
In the United States, sleep apnea affected approximately 90 million people in 2024, yet only around 14 million were formally diagnosed. This means less than 20% of cases are identified, highlighting a massive gap in clinical detection and unmet need for broader screening and awareness initiatives
Across the EU4 and the UK, Germany recorded the highest number of diagnosed prevalent cases in 2024, with around 3.5 million, followed closely by France. In contrast, Italy reported the lowest cases, with around 1 million cases.
In 2024, individuals aged 18–69 accounted for nearly 75% of diagnosed sleep apnea cases in the 7MM, with over 21 million affected. This concentration in the working-age population points to growing vulnerability linked to lifestyle-related risk factors such as obesity, chronic stress, and physical inactivity.
These findings highlight the significant burden of sleep apnea across the 7MM, especially among middle-aged adults and males. With countries like the US and Germany reporting some of the highest cases, and lifestyle-related factors playing a major role, there is a clear need for better awareness, early screening, and timely intervention to manage this growing health concern.
DelveInsight’s “Sleep Apnea – Epidemiology Forecast – 2034” report delivers an in-depth understanding of sleep apnea historical and forecasted epidemiology in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan.
Sleep Apnea: Disease Understanding
Sleep Apnea Overview
Sleep apnea is a common condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, reducing the body's oxygen supply. Individuals may snore loudly or gasp for air—signs that warrant medical attention. These breathing interruptions, often lasting 10 to 20s, can occur 5 to over 100 times per hour. Though people may not fully wake up, each pause disrupts deep, restorative sleep, leading to poor sleep quality and persistent fatigue upon waking.
OSA occurs when throat muscles relax during sleep, narrowing or blocking the airway, causing reduced oxygen levels and repeated brief awakenings to resume breathing. In contrast, CSA stems from the brain’s inability to properly regulate breathing during sleep, often due to impaired detection of carbon dioxide levels, resulting in shallow or paused breathing and disrupted sleep patterns.
Sleep apnea symptoms reflect both disrupted breathing during sleep and the consequences of poor sleep quality during the day. Common signs of OSA include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, EDS, morning headaches, dry mouth upon waking, restless sleep, frequent nighttime urination, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. CSA symptoms overlap but are more neurologically driven, including irregular breathing patterns, nighttime awakenings, and sudden shortness of breath or chest pain, difficulty focusing, morning headaches, and persistent daytime sleepiness.
Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and may be supported by screening questionnaires that assess excessive daytime sleepiness and related risk factors. A confirmed diagnosis, however, requires an overnight sleep study (polysomnography) conducted in a sleep lab.
Health history and physical exam: The assessment for sleep apnea usually begins with a review of the individual's symptoms, medical history, and a physical examination. This process helps identify potential signs of sleep apnea and uncover any risk factors that may be contributing to the condition.
Polysomnogram: A polysomnogram is a sleep study that uses sensors to monitor breathing, heart rate, and brain activity during sleep. It is essential for diagnosing sleep apnea and can be conducted either in a sleep lab or at home.
Home sleep apnea tests: A home sleep apnea test (HSAT) may be recommended for individuals likely to have moderate to severe OSA based on their symptoms and medical history. Unlike in-lab studies, HSATs use fewer sensors and do not measure brain activity or sleep stages.
Sleep Apnea Epidemiology
The Sleep Apnea epidemiology chapter in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology segmented by total prevalent cases, total diagnosed prevalent cases, type-specific cases, age-specific cases, gender-specific cases, and severity-specific cases patients in the 7MM, covering the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan from 2020 to 2034.
In 2024, the 7MM reported approximately 29 million total diagnosed prevalent cases of sleep apnea, highlighting its significant and growing health burden across developed regions.
Severity-specific segmentation in 2024 revealed that mild cases of sleep apnea accounted for approximately 7 million cases, while moderate to severe cases comprised about 6 million in the United States, indicating a substantial proportion of patients requiring more intensive clinical management.
In the United States, gender-specific analysis from 2024 showed that males constituted a significantly higher share of the diagnosed sleep apnea population, accounting for nearly 67%, while females represented around 33%—underscoring a marked male predominance in disease prevalence.
Age-specific analysis from the EU4 and the UK in 2024 revealed that the highest disease burden was among adults aged 18–69 years, with approximately 9 million diagnosed cases, while the pediatric population (=18 years) and elderly (=69 years) accounted for roughly 160 thousand and ~2 million cases, respectively.
KOL Views
To gaze into the epidemiology insights of the real world, we take KOLs and SMEs’ opinions working in the domain through primary research to fill the data gaps and validate our secondary research on disease prevalence.
DelveInsight’s analysts connected with 20+ KOLs to gather insights; however, interviews were conducted with 10+ KOLs in the 7MM. Centers such as the Johns Hopkins Hospital, USA, US; University Medicine Essen - Ruhrlandklinik, Germany; Institut Curi, France; Università Politecnica delle Marche Home, Italy; Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital, Spain; Royal Brompton Hospital, UK The National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan and others were contacted. Their opinion helps understand and validate current disease prevalence, gender involved with the disease, diagnosis rate, and diagnostic criteria.
Scope of the Report
The report covers a segment of an executive summary, and a descriptive overview of bronchiectasis explaining its causes, signs and symptoms, pathogenesis.
Comprehensive insight into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential of diagnosis rate, and disease progression have been provided.
A detailed review of current challenges in establishing diagnosis and diagnosis rate is provided.
Sleep Apnea Report Insights
Patient Population
Country-wise Epidemiology Distribution
Sleep Apnea Report Key Strengths
Ten-year Forecast
The 7MM Coverage
Sleep Apnea Epidemiology Segmentation
Sleep Apnea Report Assessment
Epidemiology Segmentation
Current Diagnostic Practices
FAQs
Epidemiology Insights
What are the disease risks, burdens, and unmet needs of sleep apnea? What will be the growth opportunities across the 7MM with respect to the patient population pertaining to sleep apnea?
What is the historical and forecasted sleep apnea patient pool in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan?
What is the diagnostic pattern of sleep apnea?
Which clinical factors will affect sleep apnea?
Which factors will affect the increase in the diagnosis of sleep apnea?
Reasons to buy
Insights on disease burden, details regarding diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.
To understand the change in sleep apnea cases in varying geographies over the coming years.
A detailed overview of total prevalent cases, total diagnosed prevalent cases, type-specific cases, age-specific cases, gender-specific cases, and severity-specific cases of sleep apnea is included.
Detailed insights on various factors hampering disease diagnosis and other existing diagnostic challenges.
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, leading to disrupted rest and imbalanced oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
It manifests in three primary forms: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA), and complex sleep apnea. OSA—the most common type—results from partial or complete upper airway blockage, while CSA stems from disrupted signalling in the brain’s respiratory control center, particularly the pre-Bötzinger complex. Complex sleep apnea exhibits features of both OSA and CSA.
OSA accounts for the overwhelming majority of diagnosed sleep apnea cases, with an estimated 200 million individuals affected across the 7MM in 2024.
In the United States, sleep apnea affected approximately 90 million people in 2024, yet only around 14 million were formally diagnosed. This means less than 20% of cases are identified, highlighting a massive gap in clinical detection and unmet need for broader screening and awareness initiatives
Across the EU4 and the UK, Germany recorded the highest number of diagnosed prevalent cases in 2024, with around 3.5 million, followed closely by France. In contrast, Italy reported the lowest cases, with around 1 million cases.
In 2024, individuals aged 18–69 accounted for nearly 75% of diagnosed sleep apnea cases in the 7MM, with over 21 million affected. This concentration in the working-age population points to growing vulnerability linked to lifestyle-related risk factors such as obesity, chronic stress, and physical inactivity.
These findings highlight the significant burden of sleep apnea across the 7MM, especially among middle-aged adults and males. With countries like the US and Germany reporting some of the highest cases, and lifestyle-related factors playing a major role, there is a clear need for better awareness, early screening, and timely intervention to manage this growing health concern.
DelveInsight’s “Sleep Apnea – Epidemiology Forecast – 2034” report delivers an in-depth understanding of sleep apnea historical and forecasted epidemiology in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan.
Sleep Apnea: Disease Understanding
Sleep Apnea Overview
Sleep apnea is a common condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, reducing the body's oxygen supply. Individuals may snore loudly or gasp for air—signs that warrant medical attention. These breathing interruptions, often lasting 10 to 20s, can occur 5 to over 100 times per hour. Though people may not fully wake up, each pause disrupts deep, restorative sleep, leading to poor sleep quality and persistent fatigue upon waking.
OSA occurs when throat muscles relax during sleep, narrowing or blocking the airway, causing reduced oxygen levels and repeated brief awakenings to resume breathing. In contrast, CSA stems from the brain’s inability to properly regulate breathing during sleep, often due to impaired detection of carbon dioxide levels, resulting in shallow or paused breathing and disrupted sleep patterns.
Sleep apnea symptoms reflect both disrupted breathing during sleep and the consequences of poor sleep quality during the day. Common signs of OSA include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, EDS, morning headaches, dry mouth upon waking, restless sleep, frequent nighttime urination, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. CSA symptoms overlap but are more neurologically driven, including irregular breathing patterns, nighttime awakenings, and sudden shortness of breath or chest pain, difficulty focusing, morning headaches, and persistent daytime sleepiness.
Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and may be supported by screening questionnaires that assess excessive daytime sleepiness and related risk factors. A confirmed diagnosis, however, requires an overnight sleep study (polysomnography) conducted in a sleep lab.
Health history and physical exam: The assessment for sleep apnea usually begins with a review of the individual's symptoms, medical history, and a physical examination. This process helps identify potential signs of sleep apnea and uncover any risk factors that may be contributing to the condition.
Polysomnogram: A polysomnogram is a sleep study that uses sensors to monitor breathing, heart rate, and brain activity during sleep. It is essential for diagnosing sleep apnea and can be conducted either in a sleep lab or at home.
Home sleep apnea tests: A home sleep apnea test (HSAT) may be recommended for individuals likely to have moderate to severe OSA based on their symptoms and medical history. Unlike in-lab studies, HSATs use fewer sensors and do not measure brain activity or sleep stages.
Sleep Apnea Epidemiology
The Sleep Apnea epidemiology chapter in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology segmented by total prevalent cases, total diagnosed prevalent cases, type-specific cases, age-specific cases, gender-specific cases, and severity-specific cases patients in the 7MM, covering the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan from 2020 to 2034.
In 2024, the 7MM reported approximately 29 million total diagnosed prevalent cases of sleep apnea, highlighting its significant and growing health burden across developed regions.
Severity-specific segmentation in 2024 revealed that mild cases of sleep apnea accounted for approximately 7 million cases, while moderate to severe cases comprised about 6 million in the United States, indicating a substantial proportion of patients requiring more intensive clinical management.
In the United States, gender-specific analysis from 2024 showed that males constituted a significantly higher share of the diagnosed sleep apnea population, accounting for nearly 67%, while females represented around 33%—underscoring a marked male predominance in disease prevalence.
Age-specific analysis from the EU4 and the UK in 2024 revealed that the highest disease burden was among adults aged 18–69 years, with approximately 9 million diagnosed cases, while the pediatric population (=18 years) and elderly (=69 years) accounted for roughly 160 thousand and ~2 million cases, respectively.
KOL Views
To gaze into the epidemiology insights of the real world, we take KOLs and SMEs’ opinions working in the domain through primary research to fill the data gaps and validate our secondary research on disease prevalence.
DelveInsight’s analysts connected with 20+ KOLs to gather insights; however, interviews were conducted with 10+ KOLs in the 7MM. Centers such as the Johns Hopkins Hospital, USA, US; University Medicine Essen - Ruhrlandklinik, Germany; Institut Curi, France; Università Politecnica delle Marche Home, Italy; Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital, Spain; Royal Brompton Hospital, UK The National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan and others were contacted. Their opinion helps understand and validate current disease prevalence, gender involved with the disease, diagnosis rate, and diagnostic criteria.
Scope of the Report
The report covers a segment of an executive summary, and a descriptive overview of bronchiectasis explaining its causes, signs and symptoms, pathogenesis.
Comprehensive insight into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential of diagnosis rate, and disease progression have been provided.
A detailed review of current challenges in establishing diagnosis and diagnosis rate is provided.
Sleep Apnea Report Insights
Patient Population
Country-wise Epidemiology Distribution
Sleep Apnea Report Key Strengths
Ten-year Forecast
The 7MM Coverage
Sleep Apnea Epidemiology Segmentation
Sleep Apnea Report Assessment
Epidemiology Segmentation
Current Diagnostic Practices
FAQs
Epidemiology Insights
What are the disease risks, burdens, and unmet needs of sleep apnea? What will be the growth opportunities across the 7MM with respect to the patient population pertaining to sleep apnea?
What is the historical and forecasted sleep apnea patient pool in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan?
What is the diagnostic pattern of sleep apnea?
Which clinical factors will affect sleep apnea?
Which factors will affect the increase in the diagnosis of sleep apnea?
Reasons to buy
Insights on disease burden, details regarding diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.
To understand the change in sleep apnea cases in varying geographies over the coming years.
A detailed overview of total prevalent cases, total diagnosed prevalent cases, type-specific cases, age-specific cases, gender-specific cases, and severity-specific cases of sleep apnea is included.
Detailed insights on various factors hampering disease diagnosis and other existing diagnostic challenges.
Table of Contents
93 Pages
- 1. Key Insights
- 2. Report Introduction
- 3. Sleep Apnea Patient Overview at a Glance
- 3.1. Patient Share Distribution (%) in the 7MM in 2024
- 3.2. Patient Share Distribution (%) in the 7MM in 2034
- 4. Executive Summary
- 5. Epidemiology Forecast Methodology
- 6. Disease Background and Overview
- 6.1. Introduction
- 6.2. Signs and Symptoms
- 6.3. Causes
- 6.4. Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis
- 6.4.1. Diagnostic Algorithm
- 6.4.2. Differential Diagnosis
- 6.4.3. Diagnostic Guidelines
- 7. Epidemiology and Patient Population
- 7.1. Key Findings
- 7.2. Assumptions and Rationale
- 7.3. Total Prevalent Cases of Sleep Apnea in the 7MM
- 7.4. The United States
- 7.4.1. Total Prevalent Cases of Sleep Apnea in the US
- 7.4.2. Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Sleep Apnea in the US
- 7.4.3. Type-specific cases of Sleep Apnea in the US
- 7.4.4. Age-specific Cases of Sleep Apnea in the US
- 7.4.5. Gender-specific Cases of Sleep Apnea in the US
- 7.4.6. Severity-specific Cases of Sleep Apnea in the US
- 7.5. EU4 and the UK
- 7.5.1. Total Prevalent Cases of Sleep Apnea in EU4 and the UK
- 7.5.2. Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Sleep Apnea in EU4 and the UK
- 7.5.3. Type-specific cases of Sleep Apnea in EU4 and the UK
- 7.5.4. Age-specific Cases of Sleep Apnea in EU4 and the UK
- 7.5.5. Gender-specific Cases of Sleep Apnea in EU4 and the UK
- 7.5.6. Severity-specific Cases of Sleep Apnea in EU4 and the UK
- 7.6. Japan
- 7.6.1. Total Prevalent Cases of Sleep Apnea in Japan
- 7.6.2. Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Sleep Apnea in Japan
- 7.6.3. Type-specific cases of Sleep Apnea in Japan
- 7.6.4. Age-specific Cases of Sleep Apnea in Japan
- 7.6.5. Gender-specific Cases of Sleep Apnea in Japan
- 7.6.6. Severity-specific Cases of Sleep Apnea in Japan
- 8. KOL Views
- 9. Appendix
- 9.1. Acronyms and Abbreviations
- 9.2. Bibliography
- 9.3. Report Methodology
- 10. DelveInsight Capabilities
- 11. Disclaimer
- 12. About DelveInsight
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