ACR 139: Sleep Apnea Awareness Month.

WHEREAS, Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common, serious, and chronic sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by repeated interruptions of breathing during sleep, leading to fragmented sleep and reduced blood oxygen levels; and

WHEREAS, OSA affects an estimated 75 to 80 million adults in the United States, and leading sleep medicine experts estimate that up to 90 percent of cases remain undiagnosed, leaving millions of individuals untreated and at an elevated risk for adverse health and safety outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Untreated OSA is associated with significant health risks, including hypertension, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, and increased all-cause mortality; and

WHEREAS, Evidence-based treatments for OSA, including continuous positive airway pressure, oral appliance therapy, weight management, and surgical interventions when appropriate, have been shown to improve daytime alertness, reduce blood pressure, and lower cardiovascular risk; and

WHEREAS, In addition to positive airway pressure therapy, oral appliance therapy is a clinically recognized and evidence-based treatment option for certain individuals with OSA; and

WHEREAS, Custom-fitted oral devices, including mandibular advancement devices and newer FDA-cleared oral appliance therapies and similar treatments, work by repositioning the jaw and airway structures during sleep to reduce airway collapse; and

WHEREAS, OSA poses substantial workforce and public safety risks due to excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired concentration, and reduced cognitive performance; and

WHEREAS, Research indicates that OSA disproportionately affects Latino, Black, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities, and these populations are more likely to experience undiagnosed or untreated disease due to barriers to care; and

WHEREAS, Addressing disparities in sleep apnea awareness, screening, and treatment is essential to advancing health equity and improving health outcomes across California’s diverse population; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Assembly proclaims the month of March as Sleep Apnea Awareness Month in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Assembly recognizes OSA as a significant and underdiagnosed public health issue affecting individual health, workforce safety, and public safety; and be it further

Resolved, That the Assembly affirms that advancing health equity in sleep apnea prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, particularly for Latino, Black, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities, low-income, rural, and underserved communities, is critical to reducing preventable chronic disease and improving population health outcomes; and be it further

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.