This description of the disease severity of OSA among patients at a single academic center with a sizeable NHPI population shows 3 key findings. First, a very high prevalence of comorbidities that magnify the risk of untreated OSA, such as hypertension, diabetes, and congestive heart failure, was found among NHPIs who underwent sleep testing. Second, the distribution of OSA was weighted toward severe disease, particularly among NHPI males who were more severely obese. The inordinately severe disease might result from unique characteristics of OSA in NHPI patients or, more likely, barriers to diagnosis in the social or medical milieu that causes a delay in recognition of OSA in milder stages. Lastly, adherence was generally low and not accurately predictable by the medical and demographic factors we examined, suggesting that systemic and societal barriers likely play a key role. Together, these findings indicate that addressing obstacles to the timely evaluation of sleep-related complaints for NHPIs could improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients who are likely to benefit greatly.
To address the possibility that our institution’s sleep program sees an abnormally complex mix of patients regardless of race, we compared comorbidities between NHPIs and non-NHPIs who had sleep testing ordered. We found 10–25% higher rates of cardiometabolic risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, and chronic kidney in NHPIs. Similarly elevated rates of these conditions are seen in NHPIs in nonclinical samples.The occurrence of high rates of chronic medical conditions in patients with undiagnosed sleep apnea may amplify the health consequences of delayed recognition of OSA.
Comentários