Prevalence and Incidence of Obstructive sleep apnea
Prevalance of Obstructive sleep apnea:
12 million Americans ... see also overview of Obstructive sleep apnea.
Prevalance Rate:
approx 1 in 22 or 4.41% or 12 million people in USA [Source statistic for calcuation: "12 million Americans" -- see also general information about data sources]
Undiagnosed prevalence of Obstructive sleep apnea:
as many as 10 million ... see also misdiagnosis of Obstructive sleep apnea.
Undiagnosed prevalence rate:
approx 1 in 27 or 3.68% or 10 million people in USA [about data] ... Note: this rate calculation uses the following statistic: as many as 10 million
About prevalence and incidence statistics:
The term 'prevalence' of Obstructive sleep apnea usually refers to the estimated population
of people who are managing Obstructive sleep apnea at any given time.
The term 'incidence' of Obstructive sleep apnea refers to the annual diagnosis rate,
or the number of new cases of Obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed each year.
Hence, these two statistics types can differ:
a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence,
but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence.
For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.