Sleep apnea sufferers have a new reason to rest easy.
On Tuesday, GM Specialty Help Inc, a virtual specialty care company working involved in sleep, announced a partnership with Sleep Number Corporation (NASDAQ: SNBR).
Gem Health’s flagship offering, Gem Sleep, delivers end-to-end virtual care for individuals who may have obstructive sleep apnea.
Gem Sleep streamlines clinical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment setup, and ongoing support, eliminating the need for in-person clinic visits. The company also strives to offer a simple, consumer-friendly solution for the estimated 80 per cent of undiagnosed sleep apnea cases. Furthermore, it recognizes the condition’s links to serious health risks such as stroke, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder where the throat muscles relax excessively, causing repeated airway blockages that interrupt breathing. These pauses in breathing can last several seconds and occur multiple times per hour. Furthermore, the results are poor sleep quality and reduced oxygen levels. Common symptoms include loud snoring, daytime fatigue, and morning headaches. Left untreated, OSA increases the risk of serious health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
The Canadian Health Measures Survey for 2016 and 2017 indicate that approximately 6.4 per cent of Canadian adults aged 18 to 79 were diagnosed with sleep apnea by a healthcare professional.
This marks an increase from 3 per cent in 2009. Additionally, doctors considered around 30 per cent of adults at moderate or high risk for developing sleep apnea based on factors such as age, body mass index, and neck circumference.
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App can work with or without a Sleep Number bed
Sleep Number’s newly introduced BreatheIQ, a digital sleep health app, helps users track their snoring and identify potential snore-related breathing irregularities. BreatheIQ users can easily connect with Gem Sleep to begin a care journey. The app works with or without a Sleep Number bed. In addition to BreatheIQ, Sleep Number offers smart beds and smart adjustable bases designed to reduce nighttime snoring.
“Advancements in breathing irregularity detection, such as those made by BreatheIQ, are critical to raise awareness of chronic sleep conditions,” said Brian Sauer, Founder and CEO of Gem Health.
“As individuals develop awareness, they must also have a clear next step to get to appropriate medical care. We are thrilled to partner with Sleep Number to offer this option to BreatheIQ users.”
Gem Sleep delivers care in days instead of weeks or months, reducing costs for both patients and insurers. Its services are in-network with health plans covering 53 million Americans, ensuring broad access to care.
The global sleep apnea devices market is experiencing significant growth. In 2024, estimates of the market’s value range from USD$6.64 billion to USD$9.70 billion, according to Grand View Research. Projections indicate that by 2034, the market could reach between USD$13.18 billion and USD$18.30 billion. This change reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 7 per cent.
In Canada, the sleep apnea devices market is also expanding. In 2023, Grand View Research valued the market at approximately USD$617.9 million. The firm also expects it to grow at a CAGR of 6 per cent, reaching USD$ 927.4 million by 2030. The increasing prevalence of sleep apnea, rising obesity rates and an aging population are primary drivers for these statistics.
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