Survey finds sleep health crisis could increase pressure on diagnostic and treatment pathways
Health technology firm, Resmed, which is focused on sleep, breathing, and care delivered in the home, has unveiled the findings from its sixth annual Global Sleep Survey.
Drawing insights from 30,000 people across 13 countries, including 2,000 UK adults, the 2026 Resmed Global Sleep Survey report reveals a significant gap between awareness of sleep’s importance and meaningful action to improve sleep health.
Sleep is increasingly recognised as a key pillar of long-term health, says Resmed, with 84 per cent of people worldwide understanding that consistent, quality sleep can help extend lifespan.
However, in the UK, awareness has not translated into better outcomes, with more than two-thirds reporting getting a good night’s sleep only four nights a week or less.
While 66 per cent of surveyed Brits understand that poor sleep can contribute to chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity, fewer than 16 per cent would seek medical advice unless they were seriously ill, reflecting a widespread tendency to deprioritise sleep health.
This deprioritisation of sleep also occurs outside of the bedroom and in the workplace, 47 per cent of employed UK respondents say their workplace does not prioritise sleep health. At the same time, 65 per cent agree that poor sleep impairs their ability to focus and perform, and 30 per cent report difficulty concentrating.
Only 43 per cent feel their workplace culture supports rest and recovery, and just 40 per cent feel comfortable discussing sleep-related challenges with their manager.
Resmed says worryingly, ‘snooze days’ are becoming common, with 63 per cent having called in sick at least once because they were too tired after a poor night’s sleep, seven per cent more than once a month, and 15 per cent more than four times a year.
Persistent poor sleep may also reflect underlying sleep disorders, such as OSA, that remain undiagnosed, and recent research from Resmed, through its medXcloud academic-industry collaborative, indicates that UK cases of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are projected to surge nearly 70 per cent from 7.7 million in 2020 to 11.9 million by 2050. A shift that could place additional pressure on diagnostic and treatment pathways if awareness and screening do not keep pace.
Joshua Piper, UK Sleep Clinician at Resmed, said: “The gap between awareness and action on sleep health signals a looming public health challenge for the UK.
“With OSA prevalence expected to rise sharply due to demographic and lifestyle trends, addressing this will require earlier identification, greater public awareness and coordinated action across healthcare systems, employers and industry to ensure people receive appropriate care.”
Despite 77 per cent of Brits knowing that quality sleep can extend a healthy lifespan, and 65 per cent believing sleep health should be taught in schools, many still underestimate the significance of sleep issues, with 21 per cent considering their sleep problems unimportant, and 13 per cent believe sleep disturbances are normal.
As a result, over a quarter of the UK respondents have been prescribed something to improve sleep health, with more than half of those individuals receiving sleep medications.
Lisa Artis, Deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity (UK), added: “Our bodies are biologically wired for daytime wakefulness and night-time sleep. But for many people, ongoing sleep debt is spilling into working life, affecting focus, safety and overall health.
“While awareness of sleep’s importance is growing, too often the support people need to protect their sleep isn’t there. Long hours, heavy workloads and a lack of recovery time can leave staff exhausted and under pressure, which is why sleep must be treated as a core part of workplace wellbeing, rather than an afterthought.”
CareCo recently announced its partnership with James Wilson, known professionally as The Sleep Geek.
