The cost-effectiveness of ambulatory vs laboratory based sleep services management of OSA

The Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is becoming a significant problem nowadays because it is associated with an increasing cardio-metabolic mortality. This disorder is increasing dramatically in the western world because it related to obesity. The cost-effectiveness ratio of OSA's diagnostic and therapeutic management is a strategic issue for health policy, which faces with recent international discussion involving the Western Health Systems. It has been shown that costs for simplified models used for diagnosis and outpatient care for OSA are minimal due to a more and more reduction of expenditure for both equipment and medical staff. This lack of investments and the utilization of portable and simplified monitoring devices could lead to incorrect diagnosis. This short review aims to offer discussion topics on the proper diagnosis and treatment of OSA in view of epidemiological / economic factors and results in terms of costs and social benefit of the disease.