Ching-Hui Sia1, Yueheng Hong2, Linda W L Tan2, Rob M van Dam3, Chi-Hang Lee4, Adeline Tan5. 1. Internal Medicine Residency, National University Health System, Singapore; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore. 2. Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore. 3. Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. 4. Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre, Singapore. 5. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Jurong Health Services, 1 Jurong East Street 21, 609606, Singapore. Electronic address: ayytan@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an increasingly prevalent condition that remains largely undiagnosed. We aimed to assess the level of awareness and knowledge of OSA among the general population. METHODS: The Singapore Health 2 was a population-based study that comprised interview and health screening components. Out of 2720 subjects who completed the interview component, 2080 subjects gave consent for further health surveys. We contacted these subjects and conducted a structured telephone interview. RESULTS: We completed 1306 telephone interviews (response rate 62.8%). Two hundred and eighty-one (21.5%) respondents were aware of OSA, but only 170 (13.0%) respondents could define OSA correctly. A total of 77 (5.9%), 158 (12.1%), 150 (11.5%) and 110 (8.4%) respondents were able to correctly list at least one risk factor, symptom, health consequence and treatment options for OSA, respectively. The most common sources of information about OSA were traditional media such as newspapers (42.0%), internet (14.2%) or relatives and friends (14.6%). On multivariate analysis, respondents were more likely to define OSA correctly if they were older (≥61years), (odds ratio of 2.99, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.66-5.41), were Chinese as compared to Indians (odds ratio 2.63, 95% CI: 1.46-4.72), had higher levels of income (odds ratio 2.18, 95% CI 1.16-4.10) and post-secondary education (odds ratio 2.87, 95% CI: 1.28-6.45). CONCLUSION: Awareness and knowledge of OSA among the general population is currently poor. The effectiveness of ongoing health education campaigns to increase awareness should be monitored by examining temporal trends in public knowledge of sleep apnea.
BACKGROUND:Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an increasingly prevalent condition that remains largely undiagnosed. We aimed to assess the level of awareness and knowledge of OSA among the general population. METHODS: The Singapore Health 2 was a population-based study that comprised interview and health screening components. Out of 2720 subjects who completed the interview component, 2080 subjects gave consent for further health surveys. We contacted these subjects and conducted a structured telephone interview. RESULTS: We completed 1306 telephone interviews (response rate 62.8%). Two hundred and eighty-one (21.5%) respondents were aware of OSA, but only 170 (13.0%) respondents could define OSA correctly. A total of 77 (5.9%), 158 (12.1%), 150 (11.5%) and 110 (8.4%) respondents were able to correctly list at least one risk factor, symptom, health consequence and treatment options for OSA, respectively. The most common sources of information about OSA were traditional media such as newspapers (42.0%), internet (14.2%) or relatives and friends (14.6%). On multivariate analysis, respondents were more likely to define OSA correctly if they were older (≥61years), (odds ratio of 2.99, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.66-5.41), were Chinese as compared to Indians (odds ratio 2.63, 95% CI: 1.46-4.72), had higher levels of income (odds ratio 2.18, 95% CI 1.16-4.10) and post-secondary education (odds ratio 2.87, 95% CI: 1.28-6.45). CONCLUSION: Awareness and knowledge of OSA among the general population is currently poor. The effectiveness of ongoing health education campaigns to increase awareness should be monitored by examining temporal trends in public knowledge of sleep apnea.
Authors: Andrea N Natsky; Andrew Vakulin; Ching Li Chai-Coetzer; R Doug McEvoy; Robert J Adams; Billingsley Kaambwa Journal: Appl Health Econ Health Policy Date: 2022-02-10 Impact factor: 3.686
Authors: Yao Hao Teo; Wilson W Tam; Chieh-Yang Koo; Aye-Thandar Aung; Ching-Hui Sia; Raymond C C Wong; William Kong; Kian-Keong Poh; Theodoros Kofidis; Pipin Kojodjojo; Chi-Hang Lee Journal: J Clin Sleep Med Date: 2021-12-01 Impact factor: 4.062
Authors: Ali M Alshehri; Mohammed S Alshehri; Omar M Alamri; Fayez S Alshehri; Mazen Alshahrani; Mohammed A Alflan; Meshary S Alshahrani Journal: Cureus Date: 2020-03-13