Don't Ignore 'Daytime Sleepiness': 80% of Workers Have Never Tested for SAS, Survey Finds

Key facts

  • Don't Ignore 'Daytime Sleepiness': 80% of Workers Have Never Tested for SAS, Survey Finds
  • A survey by the Snoring and Apnea Improvement Association revealed that 74.5% of working adults regularly experience strong daytime sleepiness, yet nearly 80% have never undergone testing for Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS). Despite frequent 'near-miss' incidents like PC work errors and drowsiness while driving, many individuals dismiss their symptoms as mere fatigue.
  • Source: PR Times
  • Date: May 25, 2026

Direct answer

A survey by the Snoring and Apnea Improvement Association revealed that 74.5% of working adults regularly experience strong daytime sleepiness, yet nearly 80% have never undergone testing for Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS). Despite frequent 'near-miss' incidents like PC work errors and drowsiness while driving, many individuals dismiss their symptoms as mere fatigue.

Citation
Don't Ignore 'Daytime Sleepiness': 80% of Workers Have Never Tested for SAS, Survey Finds (May 25, 2026), PR Times
Source
PR Times
Date
May 25, 2026
A survey by the Snoring and Apnea Improvement Association revealed that 74.5% of working adults regularly experience strong daytime sleepiness, yet nearly 80% have never undergone testing for Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS). Despite frequent 'near-miss' incidents like PC work errors and drowsiness while driving, many individuals dismiss their symptoms as mere fatigue.
調査NQ 85/100出典：PR Times

📋 Article Processing Timeline

  • 📰 Published: May 25, 2026 at 17:20
  • 🔍 Collected: May 25, 2026 at 08:31
  • 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 28, 2026 at 13:39 (77h 8m after Collected)
While public awareness of Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) has increased following news reports of accidents in the logistics industry, few people seek actual testing or treatment. The Snoring and Apnea Improvement Association conducted a 'Survey on Daytime Sleepiness and Sleep Apnea Syndrome' targeting 200 employed men and women aged 20-60 nationwide.

The survey revealed that despite many people experiencing strong daily sleepiness and 'near-miss' incidents at work, approximately 80% have never been tested for SAS. This report explores the 'hidden SAS risk' lurking among the working generation and the factors hindering medical consultation.

### Survey Background
Strong daytime sleepiness may stem from underlying conditions like SAS rather than just lack of sleep. SAS severely degrades sleep quality, posing risks such as concentration loss leading to work errors and fatal accidents like drowsy driving. Although a critical issue for occupational safety and health management, many people self-diagnose symptoms as 'just fatigue' and leave them untreated.

### Survey Summary
- 47.5% experience 'strong sleepiness' at least several times a week; 74.5% including 'monthly' occurrences.
- Top near-miss incidents: 'Potential errors during PC work' (26.4%) and 'Sleepiness while driving' (12.3%).
- Recognition of SAS is high at 92.5%.
- However, 79.0% have 'never thought about getting tested.'
- The top reason for not testing is 'symptoms are not that strong' (42.6%), showing that subjective judgment is a major barrier.

### Detailed Data
**Q1: Frequency of daytime sleepiness during work or travel?**
Approximately 74.5% of business professionals feel strong sleepiness on a regular basis.

**Q2: Have you had 'near-miss' experiences due to sleepiness?**
- Potential errors during PC work: 26.4%
- Strong sleepiness while reading materials: 20.0%
- Strong sleepiness while driving: 12.3%
Only 7.5% reported no such experiences.

**Q3: Awareness level of SAS?**
92.5% are aware of the name or overview of SAS, indicating high social recognition.

**Q4: Do you feel you might have SAS?**
About 60% replied 'No.' 15% noted they 'don't know the criteria for judgment,' suggesting a gap in connecting specific signs like snoring to their own symptoms.

FAQ

What percentage of business people experience strong drowsiness during the day?

According to survey results, 47.5% of people feel strong drowsiness several times a week, and this rises to 74.5% when including those who feel it several times a month. About three-quarters of working adults face strong drowsiness regularly.

What types of 'near-misses' are reported due to drowsiness?

The most common is 'near-misses' during computer work at 26.4%, followed by 'drowsiness while reading' at 20.0%, 'drowsiness while driving' at 12.3%, and 'falling asleep during meetings' at 10.9%.

What is the awareness and actual consultation rate for sleep apnea syndrome (SAS)?

Awareness of SAS is very high at 92.5%, but 79.0% of people have never been tested, indicating a gap between awareness and action.

Why do many people not get tested for SAS?

The main reason is 'lack of strong symptoms' at 42.6%. Additionally, 15.0% say they 'don't know the criteria for judgment,' indicating that many do not associate their symptoms with a medical condition.

What are the risks of leaving SAS untreated?

Untreated SAS can lead to a lack of concentration during the day, increasing the risk of work errors and serious accidents like drowsy driving. It is a significant issue from both occupational safety and health management perspectives.

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