Temporal and Regional Trends in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Using Administrative Health Data in Alberta, Canada

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent condition with significant health and societal impacts.
• Effective management of OSA requires understanding its epidemiological trends and geographic distribution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the annual incidence and prevalence of clinically recognized OSA in Alberta, Canada.
• To investigate geographic clustering of OSA cases using administrative health data.
• To analyze trends in OSA diagnosis over time.

Main Methods:

• Utilized administrative health databases (ICD-9/ICD-10 codes) for OSA diagnosis in individuals aged 2+ years (2003-2020).
• Defined OSA cases using a validated algorithm (≥3 claims or 1 hospitalization within 2 years).
• Employed spatial scan statistics to identify geographic "hot spots" and "cold spots" of OSA incidence and prevalence.

Main Results:

• OSA prevalence rose from 0.14% to 4.59% between 2003 and 2020.
• Annual OSA incidence increased notably after 2013.
• Higher incidence and prevalence were observed in older adults and young children (2-11 years) compared to adolescents (12-17 years).
• Regional variations in OSA were identified, with consistent cold spots in Calgary.

Conclusions:

• Clinically recognized OSA incidence and prevalence have increased in Alberta, with geographical disparities.
• Administrative health data are valuable for monitoring OSA trends and informing public health interventions.
• Findings can guide improvements in OSA healthcare delivery and quality of care.