Prevalence and Symptoms of EDS in Patients With OSA

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) represents a massive global health challenge, with prevalence rates reaching nearly 1 billion people worldwide when defined by more than 5 breathing disruptions per hour. For moderate sleep apnea (15+ events per hour), the numbers still reach 400 million to 500 million individuals globally. In some adult populations, prevalence can approach 50%, making OSA one of the most common sleep disorders encountered in clinical practice.

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) serves as a primary presenting complaint in 40% to 60% of OSA patients, though clinical experience suggests this may be underestimated. Sleep specialists often observe that sleepiness, snoring, and disrupted bedroom environments are the trinity of complaints that bring patients to medical attention. However, many patients arrive at sleep clinics not through self-recognition of symptoms, but because partners, family members, or health care providers have identified concerning sleep behaviors or related health issues.

The challenge lies in recognizing that the traditional stereotype of OSA patients—older, overweight men with thick necks—while still valid, represents only part of the population. Younger individuals, women, and those with subtler presentations can easily be overlooked, yet they may experience significant sleepiness and benefit substantially from treatment. This underscores the importance of maintaining clinical vigilance across all patient demographics.