Enhancing Sleep Apnea Treatment
The Big Problem
A patient shows up at a sleep clinic, barely keeping their eyes open. They’ve been referred for disruptive snoring and relentless fatigue, though they’re not totally convinced. “I don’t feel that bad most days,” they insist. An overnight stay at the lab confirms moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The prescription? A CPAP machine. Four weeks later, it’s still in the box, collecting dust.
Even with decades of clinical progress, the path from diagnosis to treatment of OSA rarely unfolds as planned. OSA affects an estimated 936 million people worldwide, yet many cases are underrecognized or undiagnosed.1 For those who do get a diagnosis, the road doesn’t necessarily get smoother. When adherence is defined as greater than 4 hours of nightly use, 46% to 83% of patients with obstructive sleep apnea have been reported to be nonadherent to treatment (but this differs based on the definition of non-adherence used).2 Some stop within days. Others never start. Many—especially women, racialized patients, and people facing financial stress—don’t even get diagnosed.3 Symptoms are dismissed. Referrals vanish. Entire populations fall through the cracks.
Behavioral science helps clarify where—and why—these breakdowns happen. It shows how patients interpret symptoms, how providers deliver treatment options, and how systems either open doors or close them. With sharper tools and smarter design, we can make sleep care more equitable, more intuitive—and far more likely to stick.
About the Author
Maryam Sorkhou
Maryam holds an Honours BSc in Psychology from the University of Toronto and is currently completing her PhD in Medical Science at the same institution. She studies how sex and gender interact with mental health and substance use, using neurobiological and behavioural approaches. Passionate about blending neuroscience, psychology, and public health, she works toward solutions that center marginalized populations and elevate voices that are often left out of mainstream science.
