32Co Expands Comprehensive Sleep Clinics Across the UK to Combat Rising Sleep Disorder Predicament
In a significant move to revolutionise sleep disorder care in the UK, London-based healthtech company 32Co is set to launch a nationwide network of sleep centres this summer. Named 'Aerox Sleep Centres', these centres aim to provide specialist dental sleep medicine services and tailored treatment devices, starting with pilot centres in key cities such as London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Bristol.
The initiative is poised to transform the way millions of UK patients receive treatment for sleep apnea and problematic snoring. By combining clinical expertise with targeted device solutions, the Aerox Sleep Centres aim to bridge a notable treatment access gap in the UK, integrating specialist dental sleep services with customised device provision.
Professor Ama Johal, an expert in dental sleep medicine and Clinical Lead at 32Co, emphasises the serious health risks of untreated sleep apnea and the current limited patient access to treatment. The treatment devices featured are custom-made mandibular advancement splints (MADs), widely recognised as effective medical devices for managing sleep-related breathing disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea.
The expansion of 32Co's Aerox Sleep Centres network addresses the rising crisis of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK snore or snore problematically, and traditional over-the-counter solutions have failed to address the root cause. The sleep centres will significantly improve access to MADs, a non-invasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and problematic snoring.
For many patients, the industry standard treatment method against sleep apnoea - CPAP machines - can be uncomfortable, claustrophobic, and difficult to travel with, forcing them to stop treatment. MADs, on the other hand, are an effective treatment against snoring, with limited scientifically-backed alternatives until now. MADs are also easier to adhere to than CPAP machines, as patients typically use MADs for 6.5 hours per night vs CPAP 5.2 hours per night, indicating 25% higher adherence for MADs.
The Aerox Sleep Centres fill a significant gap in UK healthcare by creating a dedicated, localised marketplace for customised treatment devices and specialist dental sleep medicine services. This represents a strategic expansion into a second healthcare vertical beyond orthodontics, backed by £7 million in funding to support growth.
32Co is upskilling dentists in OSA treatment, giving them access to medical specialists for virtual collaboration and creating a market for MADs. The company's pre-pilot trials have helped hundreds of patients improve their sleep, with stories like John, 69, from Manchester, stating that if his sleep device broke, he would be back sleeping downstairs with the dog and would be extremely disappointed.
Michael, 58, from London, reported that he doesn't wake up as tired as he normally does when using the sleep device, and without it, he would probably wake up with less energy and be grumpier. Helen, 64, from London, believes that many people would benefit from MADs because they are unobtrusive.
The national waitlist for patients in other regions is now open, as 32Co expands its Aerox Sleep Centres network across the UK. With an estimated 8 million people aged 30-69 years potentially affected by OSA in the UK alone, according to a study in The Lancet in 2020, the demand for accessible and effective treatment solutions is high.
The Aerox Sleep Centres are set to improve accessibility by situating specialist care in local practices, leveraging 32Co’s existing footprint where 90% of the UK population is within 20 minutes of their dentists. This initiative is positioned to transform how millions of UK patients receive treatment for sleep apnea and problematic snoring, by combining clinical expertise with targeted device solutions in a scalable care network.
- The London-based healthtech company, 32Co, is venturing into digital health with a scanner network for sleep disorder care in the UK.
- The aim is to establish a network of sleep centres named 'Aerox Sleep Centres' this summer.
- The centres will provide specialist dental sleep medicine services and tailored treatment devices.
- The initiative will be piloted in key cities like London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Bristol.
- The move aims to address the treatment access gap in the UK for sleep apnea and problematic snoring.
- The treatment devices offered are custom-made mandibular advancement splints (MADs), recognised as effective medical devices for managing sleep-related breathing disorders.
- Sleep apnea and snoring are a rising crisis, with approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK affected.
- Traditional over-the-counter solutions have fallen short in addressing the root cause of these issues.
- The Aerox Sleep Centres will significantly improve access to MADs, a non-invasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and problematic snoring.
- CPAP machines, the industry standard treatment method for sleep apnoea, can be uncomfortable, claustrophobic, and difficult to travel with.
- MADs, on the other hand, are more comfortable, easier to adhere to, and patients typically use them for 25% longer each night.
- The Aerox Sleep Centres create a dedicated, localised marketplace for customised treatment devices and specialist dental sleep medicine services.
- The company is investing £7 million in funding to support the growth of this healthcare vertical beyond orthodontics.
- 32Co is upskilling dentists in OSA treatment, giving them access to medical specialists for virtual collaboration.
- The pre-pilot trials have helped hundreds of patients improve their sleep, with many reporting significant improvements in energy levels and reduced grumpiness.
- The national waitlist for patients in other regions is now open, as 32Co expands its Aerox Sleep Centres network across the UK.
- According to a study in The Lancet in 2020, an estimated 8 million people aged 30-69 years in the UK alone could potentially be affected by OSA.
- The demand for accessible and effective treatment solutions is high, given the serious health risks of untreated sleep apnea.
- The Aerox Sleep Centres strategically situate specialist care in local practices, leveraging 32Co’s existing footprint where 90% of the UK population is within 20 minutes of their dentists.
- This initiative is poised to revolutionise sleep disorder care in the UK, transforming the way millions of patients receive treatment for sleep apnea and snoring.
- By combining clinical expertise with targeted device solutions, the Aerox Sleep Centres aim to bridge a notable treatment access gap in the UK.
- The healthtech industry will benefit from 32Co's expansion into a second healthcare vertical beyond orthodontics.
- Medicare and the finance industry will also be impacted, as the expansion aims to provide accessible treatments for chronic diseases like obstructive sleep apnea.
- The rise of sleep care technology reflects the growing importance of workplace-wellness and mental-health in the UK, a trend visible across the retail, transportation, and lifestyle sectors.
- The fashion-and-beauty industry may also see shifts, as skincare, eye-health, hearing, and other health-and-wellness aspects become more integrated into everyday life.
- The fitness-and-exercise industry stands to gain, as the increasing focus on health and wellness sparked by the pandemic spurs demand for digital health solutions.
- Small-business owners in the health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and lifestyle sectors may find opportunities in partnering with 32Co or similar companies.
- Entrepreneurs in the manufacturing, home-and-garden, and business sectors may also see advantages in investing in or creating devices and services for the Aerox Sleep Centres.
- With the expanding network of Aerox Sleep Centres, the UK's healthcare landscape is on the verge of a significant shift, touching industries as diverse as science, cancer, respiratory-conditions, digestive-health, cardiovascular-health, autoimmune-disorders, men's-health, women's-health, neurological-disorders, energy, food-and-drink, banking-and-insurance, relationships, pets, travel, cars, education-and-self-development, personal-growth, shopping, career-development, and even casino-and-gambling.