Greater Medical Care Needed for Older Adults With Untreated Sleep Apnea

A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found the medical costs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are much higher for older adults who are not treated for the disorder, reports News-Medical . The researchers reviewed a national sample of Medicare claims data, quantifying the healthcare costs over a year among beneficiaries 65 and older who were ultimately diagnosed with OSA. Beneficiaries who went undiagnosed had more doctor's appointments, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations before being treated. They incurred nearly $20,000 more in costs annually than those who were diagnosed and treated for OSA. University of Maryland School of Medicine Professor Emerson Wickwire predicted that medical costs among those untreated for OSA will keep increasing. Moreover, Medicare beneficiaries with OSA were more likely to have other ailments compared to non-OSA individuals, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. The study authors advised insurers, legislators, and health systems leaders to consider routine OSA screening in older adults to better limit treatment costs.