Introduction

The Global Initiative for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (GIFOSA) is an international collaborative program dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) worldwide.

Inspired by the successful frameworks of international initiatives for chronic diseases, GIFOSA aims to provide evidence-based global strategies, promote interdisciplinary cooperation, and strengthen healthcare systems in addressing the rising burden of OSA.

Under the leadership of international executive members, GIFOSA fosters scientific exchange, harmonized guidelines, capacity building, and cross-border research networks to improve patient outcomes and reduce the global impact of untreated sleep-disordered breathing.

Vision & MISSION

Vision

To become the leading global authority on Obstructive Sleep Apnea by:

  • Establishing standardized, evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis and treatment.
  • Promoting equitable access to sleep-health services worldwide.
  • Strengthening the integration of OSA management within respiratory,
  • cardiovascular, metabolic, and primary care systems.
  • Enhancing global awareness of sleep health as a fundamental pillar of well being.
  • Encouraging innovation, research, and technological development in sleep medicine.

Mission

GIFOSA’s mission is to reduce the global morbidity and mortality associated with OSA by:

  • Clinical & Scientific Objectives
  • Capacity-Building Goals
  • Advocacy Goals

Scientific Committees

Committee on Diagnosis and Screening

Standardization of HSAT, PSG, AI-based scoring.

Screening strategies for primary care and special populations (children,
elderly, obesity, occupational drivers).

Criteria for OSA severity and phenotyping.

Committee on Treatment & Long-Term Management

CPAP/BiPAP guidelines

Adherence-improvement strategies

Oral appliance therapy

Surgical approaches

Weight loss/rehabilitation

Telemonitoring protocols

Committee on Comorbidities

Asthma–COPD–OSA Overlap (ACOSOU)

Neurocognitive dysfunction

Cardiometabolic complications

Hypertension and resistant hypertension

Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome

Committee on Public Health & Policy

Advocacy for reimbursement models

Raising awareness in governments, communities, and industry

Cost-effectiveness analyses

Committee on Research & Innovation

International multicenter trials.

Promotion of innovations in telemedicine, wearable diagnostics, and smart CPAP.

Collaborative global registry for OSA.

Key Deliverables (2025–2030)

  • GIFOSA Global OSA Guideline
  • OSA Awareness Campaigns (World OSA Day)
  • Annual Global OSA Report on prevalence, burden, trends
  • International OSA Screening Toolkit for Primary Care
  • GIFOSA Registry for global OSA data
  • International Training Curriculum for sleep medicine
  • Telemedicine-based OSA Management Framework

Strategic Partnerships

GIFOSA will collaborate with:

WHO Sleep Health initiatives.

Global organizations WSS (World Sleep Society).

AFVP, APSS, ERS, ATS, AASM, JRS, APSR.

Ministries of Health & National Health Systems.

Global industry leaders.

Expected Global Impact

Increased public awareness of sleep health as a global priority.

Improved early detection of OSA across all healthcare levels.

Reduction in cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurocognitive complications.

More efficient and standardized global approaches to CPAP adherence.

Enhanced international cooperation in sleep research.

Better health-economic outcomes through early intervention.

Copyright @ 2025 Global Initiative for Obstructive Sleep Apnea