Patients with sleep apnea must use a positive airway pressure device for at least four hours a day on 21 or more days each month to keep their national health insurance support. Seasonal allergic rhinitis can block the nose, increase mouth breathing and cause air to leak from the mask, making it harder to meet the requirement.
The Maeil Shinmun reported that sleep apnea patients rose from about 45,000 in 2018 to 153,802 in 2023, while the support cost is 17,800 won per month. The figures are from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, and the supplied report says about 80% of patients are men.