On this page: About the National Data | Methodology | History
About the National Data
Data
Baseline: 32.9 percent of adults aged 20 years and over with symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea sought medical evaluation in 2015-16
Target: 36.7 percent
Methodology
Questions used to obtain the national baseline data
From the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey:
Numerator:
{Have you/Has SP} ever told a doctor or other health professional that {you have/s/he has} trouble sleeping?- Yes
- No
- Refused
- Don't know
Numerator and Denominator:
In the past 12 months, how often did {you/SP} snore while {you were/s/he was} sleeping?- Never
- Rarely (1-2 nights/week)
- Occasionally (3-4 nights/week)
- Frequently (5 or more nights/week)
- Refused
- Don't know
- Never
- Rarely (1-2 nights/week)
- Occasionally (3-4 nights/week)
- Refused
- Don't know
- Never
- Rarely (1 time a month)
- Sometimes (2-4 times a month)
- Often (5-15 times a month)
- Almost always (16-30 times a month)
- Refused
- Don't know
Methodology notes
Persons were considered to have symptoms of sleep apnea if they answered the questions listed under denominator as follows: (snoring 3 or more nights per week) OR (snort, gasp or stop breathing 3 or more nights per week) OR (feel excessively sleepy during the day almost always 16-30 times per month AND usually sleep 7 or more hours per night on weekdays or worknights).
Age-adjustment notes
This Indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:
- Total: 20-39, 40-59, 60+
- Sex: 20-39, 40-59, 60+
- Race/Ethnicity: 20-39, 40-59, 60+
- Educational Attainment: 25-39, 40-59, 60+
- Family Income (percent poverty guidelines): 20-39, 40-59, 60+
- Health Insurance Status: 20-39, 40-59, 60-64
- Marital Status: 20-39, 40-59, 60+
- Activity Limitations: 20-39, 40-59, 60+
- Country of Birth: 20-39, 40-59, 60+
- Obesity Status: 20-39, 40-59, 60+
- Veteran Status: 20-39, 40-59, 60+
History
In 2023, the baseline was revised from 33.1% to 32.9% due to a change in the sample weight for the objective. The sample weight for most of the template lines was changed from the exam weight to the interview weight to maximize the available data as the data for this objective are available for the interviewed sample except data by obesity. The target was revised from 37.1% to 36.7% using the original target setting method.