Untreated sleep apnea can lead to a host of health problems. But nearly half of patients resist treatment, which many find daunting and unpleasant.
Now, Dr. Sairam Parthasarathy of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson has received nearly $1.4 million to create a peer-support program to help sleep apnea patients.
The program initially will be available to patients at Banner – University Medicine clinics in Tucson, then to 11 Banner centers in six states.
Sleep apnea, the reduction or blockage of airflow during sleep, can lead to health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cognitive declines.
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve healthcare decisions through better information, provided the funding.