Sleep apnea is a widespread and potentially life-threatening condition that affects millions of people worldwide. According to data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), an estimated 25-30% of men and 9-17% of women in the United States meet the diagnostic criteria for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – the type of apnea that causes the airway to be blocked sporadically during sleep, causing abnormal breathing patterns. When left untreated, it can result in some really serious chronic illnesses, including everything from heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and beyond.
Yet, despite the known risks associated with sleep apnea, many patients struggle to adhere to the recommended treatment plan. This is particularly true when it comes to the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. Nearly half of all patients prescribed a CPAP stop using it within the first month, often due to discomfort, inconvenience, or plain embarrassment. This is of no surprise, as the machines are bulky, restrictive, and often buzz and hum throughout the night.
While CPAP machines are currently one of the most effective treatments for OSA, the reliance on these devices after diagnosis raises an important question: Are we diagnosing sleep apnea early enough, or are we waiting until patients have no choice but to manage the condition with such a cumbersome device?
The Problem with CPAP Adherence
The CPAP machine has long been the gold standard for treating sleep apnea. By delivering a steady flow of air into the patient’s airways, the machine prevents the breathing disruptions that characterize OSA. However, despite the machine’s effectiveness, most patients simply can’t bear using it. For many individuals, wearing a mask every night feels invasive and claustrophobic, and the noise and bulkiness of the machine can disturb both the patient and their partner’s sleep.
There is also an understated psychological burden. The very act of using a CPAP can feel like an admission of severe illness or aging, which contributes to the embarrassment and stigma surrounding the device. This perception often discourages people from sticking with the treatment, kicking off a vicious cycle of untreated sleep apnea and worsening health outcomes.
But the problem isn’t just about adherence—it’s about the timing of the diagnosis itself too. Many patients don’t seek medical advice until their symptoms have become severe, such as when snoring turns into outright breathing stoppages during sleep or when daytime fatigue becomes impossible to ignore. By that point, a CPAP may be the only feasible option. For this reason, it’s critical that we explore ways to detect sleep abnormalities earlier on, with more patient compassion and before a CPAP is the only path forward.
The Importance of Early Detection
The sooner sleep apnea is identified, the greater the opportunity to implement less invasive treatment strategies or lifestyle modifications. In many cases, weight loss, positional therapy, or other interventions can significantly improve or even eliminate mild to moderate sleep apnea pre-CPAP.
This is where emerging technologies could play a pivotal role. Traditional sleep studies require patients to spend the night in a clinic, hooked up to various monitors and electrodes that measure heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and breathing patterns. While effective, these tests are often seen as a last resort due to their inconvenience and cost, meaning many people delay getting tested until their symptoms are severe.
However, advances in early detection technologies—such as radar-based sleep monitoring systems—are offering a more accessible, patient-friendly alternative. These systems use non-invasive, contactless radar technology to monitor a person’s breathing and movements during sleep, identifying alarming patterns without the need for a clinical sleep study or an expensive few nights in a hospital bed.
How Radar Technology Can Revolutionize Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Radar-based detection systems are an example of how healthcare technology is evolving to meet the needs of both patients and clinicians. Unlike traditional sleep studies, radar systems do not require any physical contact with the patient. Instead, they monitor the patient’s breathing and chest movements remotely, often affixed to a bed frame, bedside table, etc. More so, these systems can be used in the comfort of the patient’s home, offering a much less intrusive diagnostic method that doesn’t remove the patient from their natural sleep environment.
For patients, this is a huge step forward in autonomy. A home-based system is more likely to be used consistently, and it can monitor sleep over an extended period, providing a more accurate picture of the patient’s sleep patterns than a single night in a clinic might offer. Moreover, the use of radar-based systems could enable earlier detection of sleep apnea, allowing patients to take preventive steps before the condition worsens to the point where a CPAP machine is necessary.
From a healthcare management perspective, remote radar monitoring offers the potential to reduce the overall burden on the system. Early detection could reduce the number of patients requiring costly treatments and follow-up care associated with severe OSA. Additionally, by making sleep apnea diagnosis more accessible and less stigmatized, radar technology could encourage more patients to seek treatment.
Moving Beyond CPAP: A New Era in Sleep Apnea Management
The shame and discomfort associated with CPAP machines have long been a barrier to effective sleep apnea management, often resulting in a “blame game” that makes patients feel like they aren’t dedicated enough to their own health outcomes. This mode of thinking isn’t helping anyone, especially the nearly 50% of patients who discontinue the use of the CPAP. Instead, we need to rethink how we approach the diagnosis and treatment of the condition altogether.
By embracing early detection technologies like radar-based systems, healthcare providers can offer patients a proactive, preventive approach to managing sleep apnea. This not only reduces the need for CPAP machines but also empowers patients to take control of their health by providing them with an option that fits snugly into their everyday lives.
In the future, sleep apnea treatment may no longer be synonymous with annoying machines and restless nights. Instead, we could see a shift toward personalized, non-invasive interventions that address the root cause of the condition early on. For the millions of people living with undiagnosed sleep apnea, this could be the key to a better night’s sleep—and a healthier life.
Jae-Eun Lee
Jae-Eun Lee is the Co-CEO of bitsensing, a pioneer in advanced radar solutions with applications across autonomous driving, connected living, smart cities, heath tech, and beyond. Prior to founding bitsensing, he was a Senior Research Engineer at Mando Corporation, a leading global Tier 1 OEM and supplier of automotive components to leading manufacturers such as GM, Ford, BMW, Hyundai, and KIA. During his time there, Jae-Eun was the first in South Korea to develop a 77GHz ADAS radar and lead its mass production of 10 million units, establishing his reputation as a leader in the global automotive-grade radar technology industry. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Seoul National University and a Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering from POSTECH.
