Resmed Publishes Sleep Study in The Lancet Medical Journal

SAN DIEGO—Resmed, the health technology company focused on sleep, breathing and care delivered in the home, announced it has published a sleep study in “The Lancet”, a peer-reviewed medical journal. The study shows the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is projected to increase 35% over the next three decades, impacting 46% of all US adults.

The study was conducted in conjunction with Resmed and an international team of leading sleep and respiratory medicine experts, including academic collaborators from the medXcloud group.

Key insights from the research include:

• Prevalence of OSA in the U.S. is projected to grow from 34% in 2020 to 46% by 2050—an estimated 77 million people
• Women will see the sharpest rise: a 64% increase (reaching 30 million cases) compared to a 19% increase in men (reaching 46 million cases)
   

OSA is already linked to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and reduced quality of life. Resmed said the projected surge in cases highlights the urgent need for broader screening, earlier diagnosis and faster access to effective treatments over the next 30 years before millions more Americans face preventable health consequences.

“As a sleep physician, I see firsthand how women with sleep apnea are often overlooked or misdiagnosed,” said Audrey Wells, sleep medicine physician, founder of SuperSleepMD and Resmed medical advisor. “In women, OSA may cause fatigue, insomnia symptoms, brain fog or mood changes—not the typical nighttime snoring and daytime sleepiness. These differences mean that too many women go untreated for years. We must combat the lingering stigma around what a patient with OSA ‘looks like’ and strive for earlier, accurate diagnosis so women can finally get the deep, restorative sleep they deserve.”