The Hidden Health Crisis: Why many cases of Sleep Apnoea and Insomnia are Undiagnosed
Todays blog is brought to you by Phyllis Murphy of the Awake Check Phyllis is part of the Awake Check with our steering group member and Sleep Hub supporter Adrian Zacher
Sleep Crisis
Did you know that 963 million adults globally are affected by obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), yet 80-90% remain undiagnosed [1]? In the UK alone, nearly 1 in 4 adults may have this condition without knowing it. A recent publication has projected that Sleep Apnoea prevalence in the USA will rise by 34.7% by 2050 with disproportionate growth among females compared to males[2]. Will the same increase in prevalence be seen in the UK?
The Silent Epidemic
Sleep apnoea isn’t just about snoring. Left untreated, it’s linked to multi-morbidity[3]:
• Cardiovascular disease 
• Stroke risk
• Type 2 diabetes
• Driving safety issues
• Reduced work productivity
• Mental health challenges
But even when snoring is not a direct health risk for the snorer and snoring occurs without apnoea, it is a social hinderance: for the snorer’s social life but certainly for the bed partner (4).
When combined with insomnia (COMISA), the health impacts multiply exponentially and if insomnia is left untreated, it is associated with increased morbidity and a decline in quality of life and mental health. A very recent systematic review reports that 16 % of the global population is estimated to have insomnia with 10-16% thought to be affected in a European population[5]
A Revolutionary Approach: The AWAKE Study
The AWAKE research team are excited to share a novel research project that could influence how we screen for sleep disorders. The AWAKE study (Assessing Wellbeing And Knowledge for Engagement) is leading in a new approach to identify at-risk individuals through: Community pharmacies – Making screening accessible where people already go (download the EICSS report about this)
Social media platforms – Meeting people where they spend their time
Mass media campaigns – Raising awareness at scale
Targeted outreach – Focusing on high-risk occupations and conditions
The Power of Digital Health Screening
Using validated tools like the STOP-Bang questionnaire and Insomnia Severity Index, the study aims to screen 5,000 UK adults through an innovative web-based platform. This isn’t just about data collection – it’s about:
Early detection of potentially life-threatening conditions
Personalized risk assessments delivered instantly
Evidence-based guidance for seeking appropriate care
Removing barriers to health screening
Why This Matters to You
Whether you’re in healthcare, workplace wellness, or simply care about public health:
For Healthcare Professionals: This could revolutionise how we identify and treat sleep disorders in primary care
For Employers: Sleep disorders significantly impact workplace productivity and safety – early screening could transform employee wellbeing programs
For Everyone: Understanding your sleep health risk is as important as knowing your blood pressure or cholesterol levels
The Bigger Picture
With sleep apnoea prevalence projected to rise by 34.7% by 2050, innovative screening approaches like AWAKE aren’t just helpful – they’re essential. This study represents a shift from reactive healthcare to proactive, community-based prevention.
The question isn’t whether we can afford to implement population-wide sleep screening – it’s whether we can afford not to.
Are you experiencing daytime fatigue, loud snoring, or difficulty sleeping? These could be signs of sleep disorders that affect millions. The AWAKE study is helping to bring these hidden health issues into the light.
What’s your experience with sleep health screening? Have you or someone you know struggled with undiagnosed sleep issues? Is it a snore or is it more?
#SleepHealth #DigitalHealth #PublicHealth #HealthScreening #SleepApnoea #Insomnia #CommunityHealth #HealthcareInnovation #PreventiveMedicine #ResearchImpact
1.Benjafield, A.V., et al., Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: a literature-based analysis. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 2019. 7(8): p. 687-698.
2.Boers, E., et al., Projecting the 30-year burden of obstructive sleep apnoea in the USA: a prospective modelling study. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
3.Pépin, J.-L., et al., Multidimensional phenotyping to distinguish among central (CSA), obstructive (OSA) and co-existing central and obstructive sleep apnea (CSA-OSA) phenotypes in real-world data. Sleep Medicine, 2024. 124: p. 426-433.
4. De Meyer, M.M.D., Jahromi, S.A.Z., Hambrook, D.A. et al. Perceptual snoring as a basis for a psychoacoustical modelling and clinical patient profiling. Sleep Breath 26, 75–80 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-021-02348-6
5.Benjafield, A.V., et al., Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of insomnia: a systematic literature review-based analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2025. 82: p. 102121.