Itamar Medical Ltd commissioned a survey, conducted in November 2020, based on a representative sample of more than 1,000 respondents from the United States, aged 18-65+.
Key findings:
- 89% of respondents believe they know what sleep apnea is
- 33% of respondents did not know they could significantly reduce the health risks associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke by treating sleep apnea
- 24% of respondents did not know of the existence of home sleep testing
- if prescribed/required, 56% of all respondents would choose a home-based testing solution, as opposed to an in-lab test
- The top 3 concerns respondents expressed as reasons to not take a sleep test were: cost (27.5%), inconvenience (20%), and fear of infection given the pandemic (16%)
- 25% of respondents stated that they were either unaware that snoring could be a sign of a more serious health issue or did not believe it to be true
- 23% of respondents suggested that they would think twice before seeking medical help for a sleep problem, with 28% stating outright that they would not seek medical care at all
- 33% of respondents indicated having used a wearable device or an app to track and/or monitor their sleep, with 41% of those indicating having taken the results seriously, seeking a medical evaluation, and/or treatment.
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“While unfortunately not all that surprising, the results of the survey exemplify the need to educate and spread awareness of the serious and life-threatening implications of undiagnosed sleep apnea,” says Gilad Glick, CEO of Itamar Medical, in a release. “At Itamar Medical, we are dedicated to bringing about this awareness and providing home-based, easy-to-use, eligible for reimbursement, and noninvasive solutions to address it. An alarming 51% of people still indicate that they would not take a sleep test or seek help for a sleep disorder. We need to address this issue and educate people that there are safe and viable solutions that can be conducted in the comfort of one’s home.”
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