Positive Airway Pressure Devices Beneficial for Sleep Apnea
People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) frequently report being affected by occasional breathing pauses or shallow breathing while asleep. This means they don’t get enough oxygen (hypoxia). The symptoms can be very disruptive, sometimes making it hard to sleep and leaving those who have the disorder tired in the morning. An abnormal respiratory receptor is the cause of central apnea, which makes a person stop breathing for short periods, which usually happens during sleep.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder that involves a decrease in airflow when one is asleep. The airway at the back of the throat usually stays open. However, if the body relaxes too much during sleep, the muscles that control jaw movements and tongue relax. Then this can cause an obstruction and prevent oxygen from flowing into the lungs. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome or OSA can be caused by high-fat levels in the throat area, which makes it harder to breathe while asleep. This forces people with OSA to wake up multiple times per night to breathe normally again.
It has been linked to some health concerns when it becomes chronic, like hypertension, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, memory impairment, and depression.
Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Treatment
Around the world, more than 936 million people suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that continuous positive airway pressure devices be considered first-line treatment as research shows they help most people with OSA.
Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) is a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea that delivers pressurized air into the patient’s throat while they are sleeping. This keeps the windpipe open and breathing unobstructed throughout the night. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines deliver adequate fresh air supplies to people with obstructive sleep apnea by supplying pressurized air directly into the person’s airway.
Despite the benefits, several factors contribute to the low adherence rates for PAP devices. The factors include discomfort, claustrophobia, and high cost.
Benefits of PAP Devices
- Better memory
- Better concentration
- Alertness and less sleepiness
- Productive work hours
- Normal sleep patterns
- Low stress and anxiety
- Lower blood pressure
Market Drivers of Positive Airway Pressure Devices
The market has been mainly driven by the growing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea and chronic respiratory diseases. Some countries have reported a rise in awareness for PAP therapy during the past few years. There has also been an increase in the number of health-tech startups operating in this particular industry.
Challenges for the Industry
The primary challenge is the lack of awareness among individuals. Sleep apnea faces a significant challenge when it comes to getting diagnosed — many people who suffer from the condition are unaware that they have the disease until their symptoms begin to affect their sleep quality and their mental and physical health. Another key restraining factor in the adoption of PAP devices is the high cost.
Additionally, PAP devices are sometimes also uncomfortable for users, resulting in a decline of patients adhering to the prescribed therapy. And also, due to the lack of reimbursement policies by the government and commercial payors, PAP devices face issues in emerging economies.
Market Opportunities
A rising trend due to the increasing interest in remote patient monitoring, mobile health applications, and integration of telemedicine in treatment and diagnostic aspects of healthcare has given rise to the development of smart PAP devices capable of working out of the patient’s view.
PAP device manufacturers will have to make their devices more accessible and easier to use by developing smartphone apps that can help patients track their treatment. For example, the app can track how many hours the patient has been using the device at night.
BIS Research’s global positive airway pressure devices market report highlights that the market was valued at $3,411.5 million in 2020. It is expected to reach $6,218.5 million by the end of 2030. The primary factors driving the growth of the global positive airway pressure devices market are- the rising number of startups driving innovation and the increasing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea. To learn more about the market of PAP devices, visit us at bisresearch.com
