Obstructive Sleep Apnea brings about a severe economic burden on the country

India has over 50 million sleep apnea patients, 80 per cent of whom are undiagnosed, as per the Lancet Respiratory Medicine 2019 study. Considering the prevalence, OSA brings about a severe economic burden on the country in such a situation. When it comes to COPD, it is the second leading cause of death worldwide, affecting more than 53 million from India. Due to the vulnerability of the lungs, COPD patients become prone to developing cardiovascular issues, and lung cancer, in case of acute exacerbations and even premature death.

- Dr Manbeena Chawla

Carlos Montiel, Vice PresidentLatin America, and South Asia, ResMed

A recent consensus by the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) highlights the importance of screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The report reveals that over 50 per cent of patients diagnosed with T2DM suffer from sleep disturbances, many of which may require treatment. In addition, OSA can occur together with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leading to so-called overlap syndrome. To gather more information about the treatment for such conditions, BioSpectrum spoke to Carlos Montiel, Vice President- Latin America, and South Asia, ResMed, a sleep therapy and respiratory equipment maker. Edited excerpts;

What are the challenges facing the OSA and COPD market in India?

In India, awareness is the primary challenge for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). India is a sleep deprived country, and most people don't even know about it. As per a recent ResMed's survey of over 5000 individuals, about 55 per cent of Indians have trouble sleeping. However, most have not considered consulting a sleep specialist or resorting to home sleep tests and therapies. Therefore, the foremost and the most important step is to generate awareness about the importance of sleep for overall well-being. Secondly, even though telemedicine is increasingly becoming mainstream and making diagnosis and treatment accessible to some extent, it remains a challenge to remotely treat patients with chronic symptoms.