Research in context
Evidence before this study
Despite increasing recognition of obstructive sleep apnoea as a contributor to poor health outcomes, our literature searches identified a scarcity of data about global prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea. We searched PubMed and Embase using search terms of “adult”, “sleep disordered breathing”, “sleep apnoea”, “sleep apnoea syndrome”, “obstructive”, “prevalence”, and “population”, with no limits on timeframe nor any language restrictions. The original search was done in April, 2017, and then rechecked in February, 2019 (no new papers were identified in the second search). Relevant and local prevalence data are important to facilitate implementation of effective and efficient strategies for diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnoea.
Added value of this study
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report a global estimate of obstructive sleep apnoea prevalence and to estimate the number of individuals affected by this condition worldwide. Nearly 1 billion adults aged 30–69 years worldwide were estimated to have obstructive sleep apnoea, with and without symptoms, based on an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) cutoff value of five or more events per h, with 425 million (>45%) of these individuals having an AHI of 15 or more events per h (defined as a moderate to severe disorder requiring treatment). Wide geographical variation exists in the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea, with prevalence exceeding 50% in some countries.
Implications of all the available evidence
Given the high burden of obstructive sleep apnoea worldwide, health-care systems need to adopt effective diagnostic and management strategies so that the negative health impacts of obstructive sleep apnoea can be minimised.