Experts Highlight Rising Sleep Apnoea Diagnosis Gap in India

Medical experts at Apollo Hospitals have issued a warning regarding the alarmingly high undiagnosed rate of sleep apnoea in India, estimating that 80–90% of cases remain undetected. This condition, characterized by repetitive breathing pauses during sleep, poses significant long-term health risks if left unmanaged. Despite its prevalence, public awareness remains low, often resulting in patients seeking medical advice only after the condition has advanced to a severe stage.

The health crisis is compounded by what experts identify as the culture of 'sleep shaming,' where adequate rest is often undervalued or stigmatized in high-pressure professional environments. The tendency to equate long working hours with productivity leads to a systemic neglect of sleep hygiene, which is one of India's most critical health mistakes. The lack of proactive screening in routine health check-ups further exacerbates the inability to identify symptoms in the early stages.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is frequently linked to cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and excessive daytime fatigue, which impact both personal well-being and professional performance. Experts emphasize the necessity of integrating sleep assessments into standard clinical protocols to catch these risks early. Raising awareness and normalizing the discussion of sleep health will be essential to reversing the current trends and improving overall population health outcomes in India, where sleep deprivation is increasingly recognized as a major public health concern.