What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)?
Understand how OSA affects a person and learn how to recognise the most common symptoms
OSA is a largely undiagnosed sleep disorder where a person’s upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep causing them to stop breathing for a period of 10 seconds or longer. A person’s level of OSA is measured by the number of sleep interruptions per hour using the Apnoea Hypopnea Index (AHI) or the Respiratory event Index (REI).
Did you know that 1.8m Australians have a sleep disorder and that OSA causes sleep apnoea symptoms in over 10% of the adult population?
OSA-affected Australians can be grouped into two categories:
1. Undiagnosed patients
80% of the Australians affected by OSA are undiagnosed. How many of these patients could be visiting your pharmacy daily?
- 58% of people with Type 2 Diabetes have OSA
- 77% of people that are obese have OSA
- 85% of people with hypertension who take blood pressure medication have OSA
- 30% of people taking anti-depressants have OSA
2. Diagnosed patients
An estimated 300,000 patients in Australia are already using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. On average, these people need to renew masks every 18 months and machines every three years depending on the brand chosen.
Extending your pharmacy offerings to include a dedicated sleep apnoea program and equipment range means that pharmacies can increase their patients’ quality of life, and address sleep apnoea symptoms.
OSA is a largely undiagnosed sleep disorder where a person’s upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep causing them to stop breathing for a period of 10 seconds or longer. A person’s level of OSA is measured by the number of sleep interruptions per hour using the Apnoea Hypopnea Index (AHI) or the Respiratory event Index (REI).
Did you know that 1.8m Australians have a sleep disorder and that OSA causes sleep apnoea symptoms in over 10% of the adult population?
OSA-affected Australians can be grouped into two categories:
1. Undiagnosed patients
80% of the Australians affected by OSA are undiagnosed. How many of these patients could be visiting your pharmacy daily?
- 58% of people with Type 2 Diabetes have OSA
- 77% of people that are obese have OSA
- 85% of people with hypertension who take blood pressure medication have OSA
- 30% of people taking anti-depressants have OSA
2. Diagnosed patients
An estimated 300,000 patients in Australia are already using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. On average, these people need to renew masks every 18 months and machines every three years depending on the brand chosen.
Extending your pharmacy offerings to include a dedicated sleep apnoea program and equipment range means that pharmacies can increase their patients’ quality of life, and address sleep apnoea symptoms.
The most effective OSA treatment
Once a patient has been diagnosed with sleep apnoea, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the recommended treatment. A CPAP machine prevents a patient’s upper airway from collapsing during sleep by providing a flow of air through the nose and/or mouth using a specialised mask.
CPAP masks
The mask is a crucial aspect of CPAP therapy. There are three types of CPAP masks:
Nasal – fits over the nose, covering the areas from the bridge of the nose down to the upper lip. Ideal for users who breathe strictly through their noses.
Nasal pillow (nasal direct and under the nose) – smallest of the CPAP masks, resting on the user’s upper lip as it blows pressurized air through two soft nasal tubes that insert into the nostrils creating a seal around the base of the nostrils, and is secured by straps that go around the head.
Full face – covering the nose and mouth these masks are ideal for mouth-breathers and those that haven’t worked well with the nasal mask/chinstrap combination.
The unique needs of each patient will influence which mask will be most suitable.
