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Help us improve diagnosis and treatment for sleep and breathing disorders

Many people living with a sleep and breathing disorder face delays getting diagnosed and this can make symptoms worse. You can help us to understand this issue and ensure that patients have access to the care they need when they need it.

Sleep and breathing disorders, including obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), affect millions of people across Europe.  OSA is a common sleep disorder where people temporarily stop breathing while they sleep. It is thought to affect 175 million people in Europe. 

Many people face long waiting times to get diagnosed and start treatment. This delay can make symptoms worse, affect work performance, cause mental health issues and increase the risk of accidents.  

 

Help us understand patients’ experiences of being diagnosed and treated for a sleep-related breathing disorder 

The ELF Sleep Patient Advisory Group (PAG) has created a short, anonymous survey to learn more about patients’ experiences with diagnosis and treatment. If you have been diagnosed with a sleep or breathing disorder, we would love to hear from you. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and is open until 21 March. 

Together, we can work to make sure people get the care they need, when they need it. 

 

Take the survey

 

“Early diagnosis and treatment of sleep-related conditions in children and adults is very important. It has the potential to improve quality of life, lower the risk of other diseases and manage costs for healthcare systems.” – Luca Roberti, ELF Sleep PAG

 

What happens with your feedback 

Results from this survey will be shared with healthcare professionals at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Sleep and Breathing Conference in April. ELF will attend the event in Antwerp to highlight the importance of early diagnosis and raise awareness of sleep-related conditions from the perspective of patients. Members of the ELF Sleep PAG will also present insights from projects that have deepened our understanding of these issues across Europe, focusing on what matters most to patients and their caregivers.