Association of sleep-disordered breathing with total healthcare costs and utilization in older men: the Outcomes of Sleep Disorders in Older Men (MrOS Sleep) study

The Cost-Effectiveness of Sleep Apnea Management: A Critical Evaluation of the Impact of Therapy on Health Care Costs

TOPIC IMPORTANCE

OSA is a widespread condition that significantly affects both health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). If left untreated, OSA can lead to accidents, decreased productivity, and medical complications, resulting in significant economic burdens including the direct costs of managing the disorder. Given the constraints on health care resources, understanding the cost-effectiveness of OSA management is crucial. A key factor in cost-effectiveness is whether OSA therapies reduce medical costs associated with OSA-related complications.

REVIEW FINDINGS

Treatments for OSA have been shown to enhance HRQoL, particularly for symptomatic patients with moderate or severe disease. Economic studies also have demonstrated that these treatments are highly cost-effective. However, although substantial empirical evidence shows that untreated OSA is associated with increased medical costs, uncertainty remains about the impact of OSA treatment on these costs. Randomized controlled trials of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy have failed to demonstrate cost reductions, but the studies have had important limitations. Observational studies suggest that PAP therapy may temper increases in costs, but only among patients who are highly adherent to treatment. However, the healthy adherer effect is an important potential source of bias in these studies.

SUMMARY

OSA management is cost-effective, although uncertainties persist regarding the therapy's impact on medical costs. Future studies should focus on reducing bias, particularly the healthy adherer effect, and addressing other confounding factors to clarify potential medical cost savings. Promising avenues to further understanding include using quasiexperimental designs, incorporating more sophisticated characterization of OSA severity and symptoms, and leveraging newer technologies (eg, big data, wearables, and artificial intelligence).

The economic cost of obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disease associated with a high prevalence of costly comorbidities and accidents that add to the disease's economic impact. Although more attention has been focused on OSA in recent years, no previous systematic reviews have synthesized findings from existing studies that provide estimates of the economic cost of OSA. This study aims to summarize the findings of existing studies that provide estimates of the cost of OSA. Two bibliographic databases, PubMed and Scopus, were used to identify articles on the costs of OSA. The systematic literature review identified 5,938 publications, of which 31 met the inclusion criteria. According to the results, adjusted for inflation and converted to euros, the annual cost per patient ranged from €236 (the incremental cost of OSA) for New Zealand to €28,267 for the United States. The total annual cost per patient in Europe ranged from €1,669 to €5,186. OSA causes a significant burden on society, and OSA-related costs increase many years before the diagnosis and remain elevated for a long time after the diagnosis. Despite some well-conducted studies, the cost estimates for OSA are uncertain and specific to the context in which the study was conducted.

International Consensus Statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea

BACKGROUND

Evaluation and interpretation of the literature on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) allows for consolidation and determination of the key factors important for clinical management of the adult OSA patient. Toward this goal, an international collaborative of multidisciplinary experts in sleep apnea evaluation and treatment have produced the International Consensus statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (ICS:OSA).

METHODS

Using previously defined methodology, focal topics in OSA were assigned as literature review (LR), evidence-based review (EBR), or evidence-based review with recommendations (EBR-R) formats. Each topic incorporated the available and relevant evidence which was summarized and graded on study quality. Each topic and section underwent iterative review and the ICS:OSA was created and reviewed by all authors for consensus.

RESULTS

The ICS:OSA addresses OSA syndrome definitions, pathophysiology, epidemiology, risk factors for disease, screening methods, diagnostic testing types, multiple treatment modalities, and effects of OSA treatment on multiple OSA-associated comorbidities. Specific focus on outcomes with positive airway pressure (PAP) and surgical treatments were evaluated.

CONCLUSION

This review of the literature consolidates the available knowledge and identifies the limitations of the current evidence on OSA. This effort aims to create a resource for OSA evidence-based practice and identify future research needs. Knowledge gaps and research opportunities include improving the metrics of OSA disease, determining the optimal OSA screening paradigms, developing strategies for PAP adherence and longitudinal care, enhancing selection of PAP alternatives and surgery, understanding health risk outcomes, and translating evidence into individualized approaches to therapy.

Relationship between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Liver Abnormalities in Older Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Older age is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is associated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to investigate the correlation between OSA and liver injury among older patients. Study Design. This is a cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Consecutive older (≥60 years) snoring patients were included. Subjects were divided into no OSA, mild OSA, moderate OSA, and severe OSA groups according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and were also separated into liver injury and nonliver injury groups based on liver function. Logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze the independent risk factors for liver injury.

RESULTS

We studied 227 patients (155 male, 72 female). The prevalence of liver injury exhibited an increasing trend among groups with mild-to-severe OSA. In addition, body mass index, AHI, and TG showed significant differences between the liver injury and nonliver injury groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that AHI and TG were the major contributing factors for liver injury in older patients (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.055, p=0.013, and OR = 1.485, p=0.039, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Older patients with OSA have an increased risk of liver injury and NAFLD, and sleep apnea and high TG are important factors in contributing to the development of liver injury.

Presence of obstructive sleep apnea is associated with higher future readmissions and outpatient visits-a nationwide administrative dataset study

BACKGROUND

Hospital readmissions and outpatient visits contribute to the significant burden on healthcare systems. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic medical condition that is associated with cardiovascular comorbidities and other chronic conditions. Inpatient and outpatient healthcare utilization rates in patients with OSA following hospitalization are unclear.

METHODS

This. retrospective case-control cohort study utilized a nationwide database to assess if OSA is associated with higher healthcare utilization post-hospitalization. We compared healthcare utilization among patients with OSA versus without OSA between 2009 and 2014 after matching for demographic variables, geographic location, hospital environment, reason for admission, and severity of illness during hospitalization. We measured future healthcare utilization by the number of ICU admissions, hospital admissions, emergency room visits, and outpatient visits after being discharged from the index hospitalization.

RESULTS

Two equal-sized cohorts comprised of 85,912 matched pairs were obtained. The OSA cohort demonstrated significantly higher rates of future ICU admissions, hospital admissions, emergency room visits, and outpatient visits. Matching for comorbid cardiovascular conditions continued to demonstrate higher healthcare utilization in the OSA group. Short-term outcomes during the index hospitalization were relatively similar between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective database study demonstrated that OSA may be an independent marker of higher future healthcare utilization. On the other hand, the length of stay during the index hospitalization was not elevated. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and investigate the impact of directing additional resources to inpatients with OSA.

Self-reported poor sleep on multiple dimensions is associated with higher total health care costs in older men

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To estimate the association of self-reported poor sleep in multiple dimensions with health care costs in older men.

METHODS

Participants were 1,413 men (mean [SD] age 76.5 [5.7] years) enrolled in both the Outcomes of Sleep Disorders in Older Men (MrOS Sleep) study and Medicare Fee-for-Service. Poor sleep was characterized at the baseline MrOS Sleep visit on five dimensions (satisfaction, daytime sleepiness, timing, latency, and duration). Health care costs and utilization were ascertained over 3 years of follow-up using Medicare Claims.

RESULTS

Median (interquartile range [IQR]) annualized total health care costs (2018 US dollars) rose from $3,616 (IQR 1,523-7,875) for those with no impaired sleep dimensions to $4,416 (IQR 1,854-11,343) for men with two impaired sleep dimensions and $5,819 (IQR 1,936-15,569) for those with at least three impaired sleep dimensions. After multivariable adjustment, the ratio of total health care costs (CR) was significantly higher for men with two (1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03- to 1.48) and men with at least three impaired sleep dimensions (1.78, 95% CI 1.42 to 2.23) vs. those with no impaired sleep dimensions. After excluding 101 men who died during the 3-year follow-up period, these associations were attenuated and not significant (CR 1.22, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.53 for men ≥3 impaired sleep dimensions vs. none).

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reported poor sleep on multiple dimensions is associated with higher subsequent total health care costs in older men, but this may be due to higher mortality and increased health care costs toward the end of life among those with poor sleep health.