What Good Is a CPAP Machine Without a Microchip?

by Gilles Frydman October 11, 2022

Sleep is an essential part of our daily lives. Good health requires good sleep. Every night, weary souls around the world create their own unique ambiance for a good night's rest. As they take slumber for the night, sounds of waterfalls, storybooks, and counting sheep all fade into the distance, replaced by dreams of a restful tomorrow.

But for the millions of Americans living with sleep apnea, simply "falling asleep" and getting a restful night is a challenging and sometimes frightening process. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which an individual repeatedly stops breathing. Those suffering from sleep apnea may also experience insomnia, excessive sleepiness during the daytime, headaches, and irritability. Sleep apnea also increases the risk of many serious chronic diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, and cognitive deficits. Beyond the direct biological impact of the disease, sleep apnea can seriously affect the quality of a person's life and significantly increase their risks of motor vehicle accidents.

With an estimated 54 million Americans living with sleep apnea, treating this common, chronic disease is critical. Physician-prescribed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines help stabilize patients' breathing by ensuring the delivery of constant, regulated air flow. Not only does this help individuals sleep better throughout the night, CPAP has been shown to increase sleep apnea patients' likelihood of survival by 39%.

Yet, while these medical devices are vital for many Americans with sleep apnea, the global semiconductor chip shortage has caused severe disruptions. According to a report from AdvaMed and Deloitte, approximately 75% of medical device manufacturers experienced delays in their semiconductor supply chain, 60% experienced reduced order quantity, and more than half reported order cancellations.

As with many other medical devices, there continues to be serious access challenges for CPAP. Industry data show that patients are waiting as long as 8 months to receive their CPAP machines. Due to the growing demand, health technology companies struggle to produce medical devices because of the shortage of semiconductor chips worldwide. While the chip shortage affects other devices such as cellphones and computers, patients' lives are more directly and meaningfully affected by the medical devices prescribed to them. Any disruptions to care and treatment put Americans with sleep apnea at an even higher risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and an irregular heartbeat. Many people can wait 8 months for a new phone -- yet few can afford to wait that long to get the care they need to breathe safely through the night.

The passage of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 will bring back chip manufacturing in the U.S. and will eventually help with the current shortage. But any effect of this important law on microchip manufacturing is at least 2 years ahead of us. Any help to sleep apnea patients brought by this law won't be seen for years.

To ensure more immediate access to lifesaving medical devices including CPAP, the Biden administration, HHS, and the Department of Commerce must prioritize the allocation of chips for home respiratory devices, while making sure every chip meets the proper medical standard for each patient to benefit from the device.

Reports regarding the semiconductor supply chain indicate that shortages within the manufacturing and supply of home respiratory machines have been going on for the past 2 years. With little leverage to force semiconductor manufacturers to increase supply (medical devices make up approximately 1% of the market for chips), there must be immediate federal action to secure patient access to CPAP and other medical technologies.

Again, I applaud Congress in coming together to pass the bipartisan CHIPS act, which will, in the long-term, help the industry continue to support patients by increasing domestic manufacturing and access to chips that are critical to the delivery of care. However, respiratory device manufacturers continue to face ongoing pressures, and according to a recent survey, 75% of respondents reported that their customers are turning to alternative treatment types, products, and strategies. This is simply not an option for all patients and may not be the optimal treatment for many. I urge President Biden to recognize these ongoing shortages and work with the industry to prioritize the availability of semiconductor chips for the patients who need them the most.

Gilles Frydman is executive director of the American Sleep Apnea Association.

Disclosures

Frydman has received funding from ResMed for art projects used at health and medical conferences. ASAA has previously (pre-pandemic) received CPAP machines and masks from device.