@article{Thorarinsdottir:2026,
author = {Thorarinsdottir, E and Benediktsdóttir, B and Aspelund, T and Palsdottir, H and Hreggvidsdottir, S and Gudmundsson, T and Matin, A and Eysteinsdottir, B and Janson, C and Lindberg, E and Potts, J and Amaral, A and Gislason, T},
journal = {BMJ Open},
title = {Screening for obstructive sleep apnoea in the general population in Iceland and uptake of positive airway pressure treatment: a prospective cohort study},
year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
AB  - Objectives: To estimate uptake of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) screening and initiation and long-term use of positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment in a middle-aged and older general population cohort.Design: Prospective population-based cohort study.Setting: Icelandic arm of the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease follow-up study II (2019 - 2021)Participants: 378 non-institutionalised adults aged 54 to 91 years were invited from a general population cohort. Twenty-six with prior OSA diagnosis were excluded. Of the remaining participants, 334 (88.4%) completed a technically adequate home sleep apnoea test (HSAT).Interventions: Those with an apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI) ≥15 events/hour were invited for clinical evaluation and when appropriate, referred for PAP treatment. Adherence was assessed two years after PAP initiation. Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes were screening uptake and PAP initiation. Secondary outcomes included long-term PAP use and objective adherence two years after referral.Results: AHI ≥15 was identified in 132/334 participants (39.5%). Of these, 123 (93.2%) attended clinical evaluation and 99 (75.0%) were referred for PAP treatment. Of those not referred, six declined PAP and the remainder were advised alternative management or reassessment. At two-year follow-up, 53/99 (53.5%) were long-term PAP users, 43/99 (43.4%) had discontinued, and 3/99 (3.0%) never initiated PAP. Objective adherence data were available for 47/53 long-term users; 21/47 (44.7%) met adherence criteria (≥4 hours/night on ≥70% of nights in the preceding 30 days). Conclusions: Most adults accepted OSA screening when offered. Among those with moderate-to-severe OSA identified through population screening, most accepted evaluation and PAP treatment, with approximately half becoming long-term users. These findings suggest that population-based detection of OSA followed by routine clinical management is feasible. Future studies should identi
AU  - Thorarinsdottir,E
AU  - Benediktsdóttir,B
AU  - Aspelund,T
AU  - Palsdottir,H
AU  - Hreggvidsdottir,S
AU  - Gudmundsson,T
AU  - Matin,A
AU  - Eysteinsdottir,B
AU  - Janson,C
AU  - Lindberg,E
AU  - Potts,J
AU  - Amaral,A
AU  - Gislason,T
PY  - 2026///
SN  - 2044-6055
TI  - Screening for obstructive sleep apnoea in the general population in Iceland and uptake of positive airway pressure treatment: a prospective cohort study
T2  - BMJ Open
ER  - 

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