Sleep medicine · ENT
Obstructive sleep apnoea treatment in China
Polysomnography is the diagnostic gateway for OSA — and one of the costliest tests in Western markets. Class A sleep centres deliver in-lab PSG at one-quarter the price.
Overview
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) affects approximately 1 in 5 adults but the majority remain undiagnosed and untreated. The bottleneck is rarely clinical recognition — it is access to the gateway diagnostic, polysomnography, and the cost / wait time before reaching it. Class A sleep medicine centres in China deliver in-lab PSG at substantially lower cost than US, UK, or Australian private rates.
Common symptoms
- Loud snoring
- Witnessed apnoeas (partner reports breathing pauses)
- Daytime sleepiness, morning headaches
- Unrefreshing sleep, frequent night awakenings
- Nocturia, dry mouth on waking
Risk factors
- BMI ≥ 30 (especially > 35)
- Male sex
- Age over 50
- Neck circumference > 40 cm
- Hypertension
- Anatomic factors (retrognathia, large tongue, narrow airway)
Standard diagnostic workup
Cost band at Class A international department: USD 260–420 all-in.
- STOP-Bang or Epworth Sleepiness Scale screen
- Home sleep apnoea test (HSAT) for screening
- In-lab polysomnography (gold standard)
- ENT evaluation in surgical candidates
Treatment options
CPAP therapy
First-line for moderate-to-severe OSA. Auto-CPAP machines USD 600–1,200 at Class A centres vs USD 1,200–2,400 US.
Weight loss
Highly effective in BMI-driven OSA — 10% weight loss can reduce AHI 25–50%.
Mandibular advancement device (MAD)
Custom-fitted oral appliances. USD 600–1,400 at Class A dental sleep programmes.
Positional therapy
For supine-predominant OSA.
Maxillomandibular advancement
Surgical option for refractory cases at academic ENT / oral surgery centres.
UPPP and other airway surgery
Selected anatomical cases. Outcomes patient-specific.
Frequently asked
- Should I get tested?
- Take our STOP-Bang screener. A score ≥5 predicts moderate-to-severe OSA with high probability and clearly warrants formal testing.
- What does PSG cost in China vs the US?
- In-lab polysomnography at a Class A sleep centre in China: USD 260–420 vs USD 1,500–3,500 US private. Home sleep apnoea test: USD 80–150 vs USD 200–500 US.
- Can sleep apnoea be treated without CPAP?
- Yes for selected patients. Mandibular advancement devices, positional therapy, weight loss, and (selected cases) maxillomandibular surgery all have evidence. CPAP remains first-line for moderate-to-severe disease.
Sleep apnoea risk (STOP-Bang)
Eight yes/no questions used pre-operatively worldwide to predict obstructive sleep apnoea risk. Validated and widely cited.
Take the Sleep apnoea screenerRelated specialty
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