Sleep apnoea costs the UK and US economies more than £137bn a year, with researchers calling for workplace screening and earlier treatment.
The condition causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. People often snore loudly, wake gasping for air and experience severe daytime tiredness. If untreated, it raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Sleep apnoea is estimated to affect around one billion people worldwide, including about eight million in the UK, though up to 85 per cent of cases are thought to be undiagnosed.
The study was led by researchers at University College London, who surveyed more than 4,000 adults in the UK and US.
They found that around one in five respondents reported frequent breathing pauses during sleep alongside excessive daytime sleepiness, both key indicators of the condition.
The economic impact was assessed through lost working days and reduced productivity.
The researchers estimated that obstructive sleep apnoea costs the US economy US$180bn (£133bn) a year and the UK economy £4.2bn. They said this is likely to be an underestimate, as healthcare costs and the impact of road and workplace accidents were not included.
“Given the significant yet often overlooked burden of obstructive sleep apnoea and its economic impact, we urge policymakers to allocate resources towards developing an effective screening strategy and implementing targeted public health campaigns and policies,” the authors wrote.
“Early identification and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea, along with proactive early follow-up, could result in substantial savings, potentially amounting to billions annually in productivity costs.”
Maintaining treatment can be difficult.
Nearly two-thirds of patients stop using continuous positive airway pressure therapy, the standard treatment that keeps airways open by delivering a steady flow of air through a mask during sleep.
Alternatives such as weight loss drugs, mouth guards and hypoglossal nerve stimulation implants are not suitable for all patients.
Researchers noted that newer low-cost diagnostic tools and screening algorithms could improve detection, but warned that some workers may fear negative consequences if they disclose the condition.
The trade union Unite, which represents many road haulage and passenger transport drivers, said it supports screening only if workers are properly protected.
Adrian Jones, national officer at Unite, said: “Professional drivers often hide issues of sleep apnoea out of fear of losing their jobs.
“Before introducing screening, employers must be fully educated that sleep apnoea can be effectively managed.
“Workers must have the confidence that they will be supported, not dismissed, if a problem is identified.”