Neglected burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: workplace productivity loss in the USA and UK

Rehman, Umar; Ahn, Yuju; Yerushalmi, Erez; Abdelwahab, Mohamed; Eynon-Lewis, Nicholas; Liu, Jacklyn; Sutton, Liam; Holsinger, F Christopher; Capasso, Robson; Côté, Marie-Lise; Cheong, Ryan Chin Taw; Kotecha, Bhik; Ohayon, Maurice M; Hafner, Marco; Lechner, Matt

Neglected burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: workplace productivity loss in the USA and UK

Rehman, Umar and Ahn, Yuju and Yerushalmi, Erez and Abdelwahab, Mohamed and Eynon-Lewis, Nicholas and Liu, Jacklyn and Sutton, Liam and Holsinger, F Christopher and Capasso, Robson and Côté, Marie-Lise and Cheong, Ryan Chin Taw and Kotecha, Bhik and Ohayon, Maurice M and Hafner, Marco and Lechner, Matt (2026) Neglected burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: workplace productivity loss in the USA and UK. Thorax. ISSN 0040-6376

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1136/thorax-2025-223550
Dates:	Date Event 1 February 2026 Accepted 24 February 2026 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Breathing Pauses, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Preventative Healthcare, Public Health.
Subjects:	CAH15 - social sciences > CAH15-04 - health and social care > CAH15-04-03 - health studies CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-02 - business studies
Divisions:	Business School > Accountancy, Finance and Economics Business School > Accountancy, Finance and Economics > Centre for Accountancy Finance and Economics
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	25 Feb 2026 10:48
Last Modified:	25 Feb 2026 10:48
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16884