Sleep disorders are associated with the risk of serious illnesses such as high blood pressure, depression or diabetes.
Vienna (OTS) – More than half of Austrians suffer from regular sleep disorders and only a few of them question their associated daytime sleepiness and seek a sleep medicine examination[1]However, the fact that lack of sleep and sleep disorders can often be linked to serious illnesses such as high blood pressure or diabetes, or can cause depression and difficulty concentrating, is often ignored by those affected. At the 32nd ASRA Annual Conference* of the Austrian Society for Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research (ÖGSM), the importance of sleep medicine and the latest scientific developments will once again be discussed and presented this year. The member companies of the Home Care Provider platform, an association of seven highly qualified service providers in the field of home therapy, are actively participating in this exchange.
Risk of sleep problems often underestimated
The topic of sleep has received increased attention in recent years, not least due to the influence of social media and wearables or smartphones that track sleep behavior. Sleep medicine has also developed into a dynamic discipline over the years. In the case of serious sleep-related disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the risk of heart attack and sleep attacks is still largely underestimated despite clear studies. For a precise diagnosis and a more detailed consideration of possible forms of therapy, those affected should ideally turn to certified sleep laboratories and under no circumstances rely on apps or sleep trackers. PD Dr. Michael Saletu, specialist in neurology, European-certified sleep medicine specialist and president of the Austrian Society for Sleep Medicine (ÖGSM): „As in any other medical discipline, people with sleep disorders need professional help that complies with guidelines. According to international studies, insomnia is not only an independent risk factor for mental and/or cardiovascular diseases, but also one of the most common reasons for absence from work. This in turn has enormous socioeconomic consequences. Sleep disorders are very diverse and also require individual treatment. Cooperation between manufacturers and sleep medicine specialists is essential, especially when it comes to forms of therapy in the home. Diagnostic devices, sleep masks and other therapy devices enable adequate, safe and high-quality care for those affected.
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350,000 people affected by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Austria
22 percent of the Austrian population suffer from above-average daytime sleepiness.[2] The consequences of such sleep problems and the importance of good, healthy sleep are often underestimated: lack of sleep and sleep disorders make us susceptible to illness, can lead to depression, high blood pressure[3] or diabetes[4] lead to or promote them. The causes of sleep-related illnesses are varied and range from neurological or psychological disorders to malfunctions in respiratory physiology, as is the case with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – often due to obesity. OSA is the most common form of sleep-related illness, in which breathing pauses for at least 10 seconds during sleep repeatedly. Due to the resulting constant waking, those affected do not reach REM and deep sleep phases and thus experience headaches during the day, as well as difficulty concentrating and chronic fatigue – which can extend to dangerous daytime sleepiness. Over 936 million people worldwide suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)[5]In Austria alone, 350,000 people are officially affected – the number of unreported cases is 600,000.
Professional exchange at the 32nd ASRA Annual Conference of the ÖGSM
From June 21 to 22, 2024, an extensive program on the topic of “Sleep and Networks” will be presented at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Austrian Society for Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research (ÖGSM) in Seggau Castle near Leibnitz. The focus will not only be on new scientific findings and technical advances, but above all on the dialogue and partnership between all network partners and stakeholders from research, medicine, care and industry. Markus Schimel, managing director of a member company of the Home Care Provider platform, an association of seven highly qualified service providers in the field of home therapy, once again emphasizes the importance of good partnership: „As a founding member of the Home Care Provider platform, we have for many years seen the collaborative cooperation of all actors as an essential starting point for ensuring the well-being and safety of patients in a joint effort in the long term. This year, too, it is particularly important to us to make a contribution to the ASRA annual conference and to help shape the perspectives of this dynamic discipline.
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Home Care Provider platform stands for home therapy of the highest quality
The Home Care Provider platform brings together seven companies[6]which supplies Austria with high-quality pharmaceutical and medical products and therapy devices. The focus is on medical oxygen and home ventilation devices. Also so-called CPAP therapies, which are used in sleep medicine – especially for people with obstructive sleep apnea. All products are certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001 and/or DIN EN ISO 13485, the production sites for medical oxygen are inspected by the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES). Information at www.homecareprovider.at
All information and program contents for the 32nd ASRA Annual Conference of the ÖGSM at https://schlafmedizin.at/de/jahrestagung/vorwort/
* Austrian Sleep Research Association
[1] https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/web/ueber-uns/news
[2] Spectra Market Research 2021
[3] Zagorski, T., Arzt, M. & Stadler, S. Obstructive sleep apnea and arterial hypertension. Somnologie 27, 51–63 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11818-022-00358-4
[4] The risk of diabetes in OSA is increased by about 30%. Fietze, I. Diabetologe 2020 · 16:415–426
[5] https://www.resmed-healthcare.de/news/neue-zahlen
[6] The seven member companies of the Home Care Provider platform, organized as a specialist committee in the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber within the Federal Committee for Photo, Optics and Medical Products Trade: Habel Medizintechnik, Linde Healthcare, Löwenstein Medical, Messer Medical, OxyCare Medizintechnik, VitalAire, Vivisol
Inquiries & Contact:
FINE FACTS Health Communication GmbH
Mariannengasse 10/13, 1090 Wien
+43 1 946 26 71
presse@homecareprovider.at
Plattform HOME CARE PROVIDER
c/o Austrian Chamber of Commerce
Federal Committee for Photo, Optics and Medical Devices Trade
Wiedner Hauptstrasse 63 | A-1045 Vienna
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