Freedom of Information (FOI) data has revealed sharp increases in diagnostic sleep studies across several NHS trusts, reflecting a nationwide surge in sleep apnoea diagnoses.
Major rises in diagnostic tests
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in London recorded a 361% rise in respiratory sleep studies between 2023 and 2024, from 129 – 595 tests. The trust, which serves around 1.3 million people across Tooting and Roehampton, reported the largest increase in England.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust saw a 132% increase, from 760 – 1,762 tests, serving a population of about 550,000 and providing specialist care to 1.1 million people in West Yorkshire.
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust reported a 124% rise, with studies increasing from 46 – 103. The trust delivers acute care to North Northamptonshire and South Leicestershire.
Across the UK, reported sleep apnoea cases reached over 36,070 in 2024, marking a 214% increase since 2014, according to data commissioned by Mattress Online, a sleep science specialist.
NHS trusts with the largest year-on-year increases
- St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 361%
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 132%
- Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: 124%
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust: 91% (1,249 – 2,390)
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust: 88% (588 – 1,103)
- George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust: 87% (397 – 743)
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 74% (416 – 724)
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust: 65% (1,235 – 2,036)
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust: 63% (1,846 – 3,005)
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust: 56% (2,362 – 3,682)
(FOI data commissioned by Mattress Online)
Understanding sleep studies
Sleep studies measure breathing patterns during rest and can take place either in clinics or at home. A typical home test uses several sensors:
- an oxygen monitor to track blood oxygen levels,
- RIP bands to detect breathing effort,
- a microphone to record snoring, and
- a heart rate monitor.
Specialists analyse the data to identify apnoea events and recommend treatments.
Types and Symptoms of Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep.
- Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the most common type, results from airway blockage despite breathing efforts.
- Central sleep apnoea occurs when the brain fails to send proper breathing signals.
- Mixed sleep apnoea involves both types.
Loud or irregular snoring is a key symptom. Hannah Shore, Head of Sleep Science at Mattress Online, explains: “Snoring can be completely natural. When we fall asleep, our muscles within our upper airway relax, just like the rest of our body. This can reduce the space through which air has to flow. This may lead to regular snoring noises. However, if this snoring is loud and irregular, this is a sign we may need to be checked for sleep apnoea.”
Other symptoms include morning headaches, insomnia, dry mouth upon waking, and excessive daytime tiredness.
Treatment and contributing factors
Treatment depends on severity. Lifestyle changes such as reducing alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and losing weight can help. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, which uses a mask to deliver gentle air pressure, is a common treatment that keeps airways open and improves sleep quality.
Rising obesity rates are a key driver, with 35% of UK adults overweight and 29% obese, according to the Health Survey for England. Menopause also contributes to higher rates among women. Shore notes: “There is a big link with menopause and sleep apnoea. During the menopause, we often see an increase in weight gain through the different hormone changes. As we know, an increase in weight also increases the chance of OSA. What is interesting is that historically, it is seen as a bit of a taboo if women snore. Therefore, it is often undiagnosed within women, particularly menopausal women. As we see an increased awareness of all things sleep-related, and menopause related too, we are seeing an increased amount of women presenting with sleep apnoea. This could also be why cases have increased.”
Managing snoring and sleep quality
While bedding adjustments cannot cure sleep apnoea, they may reduce ordinary snoring. Shore advises: “While the right bed or mattress is not enough to solve sleep problems like sleep apnoea, those struggling with normal snoring may find that adjusting their pillows may help. Some people struggle with positional snoring, where you only snore in one position, normally on your back, this is due to gravity pulling your chin down and decreasing the space in the upper airway further. You can find positioning pillows to help you sleep on your side and reduce snoring.
Inflammation may also be the result of some snoring, in which case you may find your snoring gets worse in certain months with certain allergens, treating your allergens and using anti-allergy bedding may then reduce your snoring.”
Experts emphasise that medical consultation remains essential for diagnosis and management.