This is the question asked me in the comment section (#33) of my piece in the New York Times All Nighters Series. Although it is quite common for people to complain of insomnia and then on further investigation to be found to have sleep apnea, I think that 90% is a bit high. This is especially true of older patients and women. One sleep expert at a conference that I recently attended, estimated that it is around 50%. I don’t think that we have alot of data, but there may be some studies looking at this. I will do some research and get back to you. Thanks for the question.
As for whether physicians should do more screening for sleep apnea, there is a resounding yes from many arenas. Primary care doctors (including pediatricians), cardiologists, pulmonologists, endocrinologists, neurologists are examples of doctors who deal every day with the diseases associated with sleep apnea. Diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cardiac arrhythmias, diabetes, weight gain, obesity,dementia. In children, it can lead to ADHD symptoms, diagnoses of psychiatric and learning problems; it can lead to stunted growth, obesity and bed wetting. There are many simple screening questionaires that could help physcians decide who should be referred to a sleep specialist, but they are not often used. Sleep specialists hope to help educate other physicians and the public about how beneficial it can be for patients to have their sleep disorders treated.
Sleep Medicine is Preventive Medicine.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/at-midnight-all-the-doctors/
