More than a THIRD of people in the Americas now suffer from sleep apnea

More than a THIRD of people in the Americas now suffer from sleep apnea - as obesity drives up rates of breathing problems The research team estimated that 170 million adults in the 40 countries of the Americas may suffer from OSA  The rising rate of obesity, a risk factor in obstructive sleep apnea, has been driving up rates And recent changes in scoring rules from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) mean more people qualify as having sleep apnea

By Reuters and Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 14:47 BST, 20 June 2019 | Updated: 14:47 BST, 20 June 2019

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may affect as many as 37 percent of adults in North, Central and South America, according to a new review of epidemiological studies.

The work was presented at Sleep 2019, the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in San Antonio, Texas.

It came as no surprise to the review's senior author, Dr Adam Benjafield of ResMed, a manufacturer of medical breathing devices in San Diego, California. 

The rising rate of obesity, a risk factor in OSA, has clearly been driving up rates, he told Reuters Health.

As many as 81 million adults in the hemisphere may have moderate to severe OSA, representing nearly 18 percent of the adult population

As many as 81 million adults in the hemisphere may have moderate to severe OSA, representing nearly 18 percent of the adult population

What's more, recent changes in scoring rules from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) mean more people fall into the bracket.

'This research highlights that there is a large burden of disease that may not be widely appreciated and speaks to

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