Obstructive Sleep Apnea Expected to Affect Nearly 77 million U.S. Adults by 2050, New Resmed Study Finds

Rhea-AI Summary

ResMed (NYSE:RMD) has published a landmark study in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine projecting that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) will affect nearly 77 million U.S. adults by 2050, representing a 35% increase from 2020. The research reveals significant demographic shifts, with women experiencing a 65% relative increase to 30.4 million cases, while men will see a 19% increase to 45.9 million cases.

The study, conducted through ResMed's medXcloud academic-industry collaborative, indicates that OSA will impact 46% of adults aged 30-69 by 2050. Notably, the impact of GLP-1 weight loss therapies is expected to be minimal, potentially reducing OSA prevalence by only 4% to 74 million cases. The research emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced screening, earlier diagnosis, and improved healthcare resource allocation to address this growing public health challenge.

Positive

• First comprehensive data-driven forecast of OSA prevalence in the U.S. through 2050
• Study published in prestigious The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal, enhancing credibility
• Research positions ResMed as a thought leader in sleep medicine
• Highlights significant market growth potential for ResMed's sleep and breathing solutions

Negative

• GLP-1 weight loss drugs show minimal impact on reducing OSA prevalence (only 4% reduction)
• Current 80% underdiagnosis rate indicates significant challenges in market penetration
• Healthcare system may face resource constraints in addressing growing OSA prevalence

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

ResMed's study projecting 35% increase in sleep apnea prevalence by 2050 signals significant long-term market growth opportunity.

ResMed's landmark study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine projects obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) will affect 77 million U.S. adults by 2050, representing a 35% relative increase from 2020. This research, conducted through ResMed's medXcloud academic-industry collaborative, provides the first data-driven forecast of OSA prevalence using an open-cohort dynamic population model that factors in changes in age, sex, and BMI.

The most striking finding is the projected 65% relative increase in OSA prevalence among women, reaching 30.4 million by 2050, compared to a 19% increase among men (to 45.9 million). This gender disparity highlights a significantly underserved female population that represents a major growth opportunity for ResMed's diagnostics and treatment solutions.

Particularly notable is the study's sensitivity analysis on GLP-1 weight loss medications, showing they would reduce OSA prevalence by only 4% (from 77 million to 74 million cases). This finding strategically neutralizes investor concerns that weight loss drugs might significantly undermine ResMed's addressable market.

With current diagnosis rates at only 20%, the growing prevalence creates substantial market expansion potential for ResMed's full product ecosystem - from diagnostics to CPAP devices to digital health platforms. The publication in a prestigious journal like The Lancet establishes ResMed as a scientific authority while simultaneously building awareness of the condition they treat, effectively expanding their market through medical education.

By highlighting that 46% of adults aged 30-69 will be affected by 2050, ResMed is signaling to healthcare systems, insurers, and policymakers that significant investment in OSA diagnosis and treatment infrastructure will be necessary - investments that would directly benefit ResMed's business model and revenue growth trajectory.

Published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, research reveals sharp rise in OSA, especially among women, highlighting the need for earlier diagnosis, preventative strategies, and personalized care

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Resmed (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD), the leading health technology company focused on sleep, breathing, and care delivered in the home, today announced the publication of a landmark study in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine projecting a significant rise in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the United States over the next three decades due to a variety of factors, including an aging population and increasing body mass index (BMI).

The study estimates that by 2050, OSA will affect nearly 77 million U.S. adults, representing a relative¹ increase of nearly 35% from 2020 and impacting 46% of adults aged 30-69. The study is the first of its kind to estimate OSA prevalence in the United States between 2020 and 2050. It used an open-cohort dynamic population model factoring in changes in age, sex, and BMI.

OSA is a chronic sleep-related breathing disorder where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, affecting nearly 1 billion people globally². It is linked to serious health consequences, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even stroke³. Yet, more than 80% of cases go undiagnosed and untreated⁴. The new research highlights an urgent need for earlier diagnosis of OSA, preventative strategies, and healthcare resource allocation to address this major public health problem.

“This study reaffirms that the number of people with OSA is expected to dramatically increase,” said Carlos Nunez, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Resmed and Study Co-Author. “As an industry, we must expand screening, increase awareness of symptoms among providers and consumers, and make it easier for people to get tested and treated, including at home. If we don’t act, we risk missing tens of millions of people who need access to care.”

Led by researchers at Resmed through their medXcloud academic-industry collaborative, involving global academic thought leaders in the fields of sleep and respiratory medicine, the study also found:

• A 65% relative increase in OSA prevalence among women, reaching 30.4 million by 2050: The sharp rise, attributed to factors like an aging population and underdiagnosis⁵, underscores the need for greater awareness of how OSA presents differently in women to support earlier screening, diagnosis, and targeted treatment. 
• A 19% relative increase in OSA prevalence among men, reaching 45.9 million cases by 2050: This continued rise reflects ongoing risk in aging male populations, highlighting the need for scalable diagnostic pathways and long-term treatment strategies.
• The impact of GLP-1 therapies on future OSA prevalence is anticipated to be limited, with reductions estimated at under 5%: Even with advances in emerging drugs, such as GLP-1s, the overall number of people affected by OSA is expected to continue growing. GLP-1 use is estimated to reduce relative OSA prevalence by only 4% by 2050, from nearly 77 million cases to nearly 74 million cases. These estimates, from a sensitivity analysis included in the study, reflect that obesity is only one of many factors contributing to OSA, and that the significant overall growth of OSA prevalence remains a public health priority.
  

"Understanding how the prevalence of sleep apnea may grow, and who will be most affected, is essential for shaping smarter proactive health and public health strategies,” said Atul Malhotra, MD, Senior Author of the Study, Vice Chair of Medicine for Research, Research Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, and Peter C. Farrell Presidential Chair and Tenured Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, and Pulmonologist at UC San Diego Health. “This study fills an important gap by helping health systems, payers, and policymakers anticipate what’s coming so they can invest in earlier diagnosis, expand access to care, and improve long-term outcomes for millions of patients across the country.”

“Sleep apnea has long been underdiagnosed and underprioritized,” said Elroy Boers, Ph.D., Lead Author of the Study and Research Scientist at Resmed. “This is the first data-driven forecast of how OSA may evolve, evidence that can drive earlier detection, proactive care, and smarter policy.”

Earlier this year, Resmed announced results from a meta-analysis published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, which found that treating OSA with CPAP therapy can significantly reduce the risk of death⁶. Together, these studies highlight the need to raise awareness, enable earlier diagnosis, and ensure ongoing care to help improve outcomes and reduce the public health burden of sleep apnea.

To read the full study, see the publication in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

To better understand your sleep health, take Resmed’s sleep assessment.

About Resmed

Resmed (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD) creates life-changing health technologies that people love. We’re relentlessly committed to pioneering innovative technology to empower millions of people in 140 countries to live happier, healthier lives. Our AI-powered digital health solutions, cloud-connected devices and intelligent software make home healthcare more personalized, accessible and effective. Ultimately, Resmed envisions a world where every person can achieve their full potential through better sleep and breathing, with care delivered in their own home. Learn more about how we’re redefining sleep health at Resmed.com and follow @Resmed.

For Media	For Investors
Caela Shay	Salli Schwartz
Caela.shay@resmed.com	Salli.Schwartz@resmed.com
news@resmed.com	investorrelations@resmed.com

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¹ Relative change refers to the percentage difference between two values, calculated in relation to the starting value.
²Benjafield AV, Ayas NT, Eastwood PR, Heinzer R, Ip MSM, Morrell MJ, Nunez CM, Patel SR, Penzel T, Pépin JL, Peppard PE, Sinha S, Tufik S, Valentine K, Malhotra A. Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: a literature-based analysis. Lancet Respir Med. 2019 Aug;7(8):687-698. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(19)30198-5. Epub 2019 Jul 9. PMID: 31300334; PMCID: PMC7007763.
³ Yeghiazarians Y, Jneid H, Tietjens JR, et al. Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2021; 144(3): e56-e67.
⁴ Frost & Sullivan for the AASM; Hidden Health Crisis Costing America Billions; 2016
⁵ Bouloukaki I, Tsiligianni I, Schiza S. Evaluation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Female Patients in Primary Care: Time for Improvement? Med Princ Pract. 2021;30(6):508-514
⁶ Benjafield et al; Positive airway pressure therapy and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in people with obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and confounder-adjusted, non-randomised controlled studies; Lancet Respir Med 2025

FAQ

What is the projected number of U.S. adults with sleep apnea by 2050 according to ResMed's study?

According to the study, nearly 77 million U.S. adults will be affected by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by 2050, representing a 35% increase from 2020 levels.

How will OSA prevalence differ between men and women by 2050?

The study projects a 65% increase in women (reaching 30.4 million cases) and a 19% increase in men (reaching 45.9 million cases) by 2050.

What impact will GLP-1 weight loss drugs have on sleep apnea rates according to ResMed's research?

GLP-1 therapies are expected to have a limited impact, potentially reducing OSA prevalence by only 4% (from 77 million to 74 million cases) by 2050.

What percentage of adults aged 30-69 will be affected by sleep apnea in 2050?

The study projects that 46% of adults aged 30-69 will be affected by obstructive sleep apnea by 2050.

What is the current diagnosis rate for sleep apnea according to ResMed's study?

Currently, more than 80% of OSA cases go undiagnosed and untreated, highlighting a significant gap in detection and treatment.