Work Productivity Burden Among Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity Versus Controls Without Obstructive Sleep Apnea or Obesity.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine work loss, motor vehicle accidents, and serious injuries among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity ("patients") versus matched controls without OSA or obesity ("controls").

METHODS

Outcomes were compared for patients and controls after matching on baseline demographics, overall and stratified by OSA severity.

RESULTS

Patients were 3 times more likely to have a short-term disability (STD) claim (15.7% vs 5.0%, P  < 0.001) and had higher STD costs ($960 vs $305, P  < 0.001) than matched controls. The prevalence of serious injuries was twofold higher (17.1% vs 8.4%; P  < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with OSA and obesity have an elevated risk of STD and serious injuries versus matched controls. Both weight and OSA management have the potential to reduce the burden of OSA and thus have the potential to reduce the burden of STD and serious injuries.