In an April 14 position statement, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine underscored the clinical significance of sleepiness and its effects on health, safety and quality of life.
One-third of U.S. adults have self-reported experiencing excessive sleepiness, which research shows is linked to higher risks of cognitive and functional impairment, workplace accidents, drowsy driving crashes, depression and suicidal ideation.
“We’ve reached a critical point where the health care system must prioritize the evaluation and management of sleepiness to help patients achieve restorative sleep and maintain daytime alertness,” Eric Olson, MD, AASM president, said in an April 14 news release. “Further research and innovation are essential to advancing the treatment of sleep-wake disorders, including studies that drive the development of therapies for daytime sleepiness.”
More than two dozen medical organizations supported the AASM’s statement, including the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
