Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea is intimately related to chronic conditions that have significant burden for patients and healthcare systems. It has negative implications for cardiovascular, metabolic and neuro-psychiatric systems. It is underdiagnosed worldwide; definitive diagnosis, as well as treatment for moderate to severe forms of the disease, are considerably expensive. There is scarce evidence of the burden the condition represents for Panama and other American countries. Sedentary lifestyle, obesity and obstructive sleep apnea are expected to increase in prevalence, making it of the utmost importance to address its underdiagnosis and to establish healthcare networks that can efficiently deal with it. The application of affordable strategies, such as questionnaires and simple biometrics, could help in efficient resource allocation to develop public health

networks that would eventually be capable of accurately estimating disease burden, and to offer adequate therapeutic options. Panama has a complex health system that shares similarities with other American countries; developing a sleep apnea program in this public health system requires wise scientific driven resource allocation that minimizes underserved areas and maximizes efficiency.

Keywords: Sleep apnea syndromes; prevalence; healthcare disparities; resource allocation; Panama.