Prevalence of Sleep Apnea in Colombia: An Analysis of the Ministry of Health Database

Abstract

Introduction: Prevalence estimates for sleep apnea have traditionally been based on surveys that probe factors such as snoring and daytime sleepi-ness. The Colombian Ministry of Health maintains an information system that has been utilized to estimate the prevalence of numerous diseases. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the information of patients diagnosed with sleep apnea by gender, age, and departments in Colombia from the official databases. Methods: We accessed the SISPRO cubes searching for individuals treated with a primary diagnosis of sleep apnea (ICD-10 code G-473) between 2017 and 2021, gathering data on gender, age, and location of care. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results: A total of 363,204 patients were diagnosed (50.5% women). Of these, 250,477 (69.0%) were aged over 50 years, resulting in a national prevalence in this age group of 21.67 per 1,000 inhabitants. Comorbidities identified included obesity (in 34% of women and 24% of men), hypertension (in 47%), and diabetes (in 15%). Conclusions: The prevalence ascertained from administrative records is lower than estimates derived from screening surveys, likely due to under-diagnosis and underreporting. Nonetheless, the data underscore the signi-ficant scope of a problem that will continue to escalate in the coming years.