OSA risk across the UK - just published!

The new BLF OSA map enables us to identify, for the first time, the areas in the UK that have the highest predicted risk for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

The map shows this predicted risk, which is based on five major known risk factors for OSA. These are obesity, diabetes, age, hypertension (high blood pressure) and sex (males).

The map also shows the known sleep clinics, where OSA is diagnosed and treated across the UK.

This tells us that there are 289 sleep clinics. It shows that in 66 health areas there are no known sleep clinics, while in one large urban area there are nine.

It also shows that many sleep clinics are located in urban areas, although the predicted OSA risk in these areas is often lower, due mainly to younger populations.

We can see that some people in rural areas will have to travel a long way to get to their nearest sleep clinic.

What this map clearly shows is that there are variations across the country – your access to a sleep clinic depends on where you live.

To find out more, have a look at the BLF website: blf.org.uk/Page/OSA-map