Sleep Institute: Clinical Insights by Resmed – “Rethinking Sleep Apnea in Women: New Data, New Insights, New Directions”
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 4:00pm-5:00pm EST
Overview:
Women experience obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) very differently from men; yet our current diagnostic criteria, clinical pathways, and much of the clinical evidence guiding decision-making remain largely male-derived. This presentation will describe how hormonal, anatomical, and ventilatory differences shape the female OSA phenotype, and why women more often present with fatigue, insomnia, and mood disturbance rather than the “classic” sleepy, snoring profile.
Sharing data from new large-scale population studies, this talk will take a deeper dive into what female OSA patients look like, including emerging phenotypes and endotypes. Dr. Alison Wimms, Director of Medical Affairs at Resmed, will discuss recent research linking sleep disruption in women to rising rates of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and metabolic disorders, and outline the pathways that may be contributing to these long-term health risks.
The session will also highlight the growing evidence that even mild OSA in women carries a disproportionate health and psychosocial burden, and that current screening and scoring systems frequently underestimate disease severity.
Finally, Dr. Wimms will share updates on key research currently underway, including female specific screening tools. She will outline future directions in tailored treatment thresholds, and early intervention strategies. Attendees will leave with a sharper understanding of how to recognize, diagnose, and manage sleep-disordered breathing in women — and why doing so can profoundly impact long-term health outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
• Identify key biological and clinical differences in how OSA presents in women
• Recognize female-specific symptom patterns and emerging OSA phenotypes
• Understand the long-term cardiometabolic and cognitive risks of sleep disruption in women
• Apply evolving evidence to improve screening, diagnosis, and management of OSA in women
Speaker:
Dr. Alison Wimms is the Director of Medical Affairs at Resmed and has worked in the field of sleep medicine for over 20 years. She leads Resmed’s global clinical evidence program, driving research to advance our understanding of sleep and respiratory disorders worldwide. With a PhD in Medicine from the University of Sydney focused on sex differences in OSA, Dr. Wimms is internationally recognized for her contributions to women’s sleep health.
The webinar is made possible by the SRS Foundation and supported by Resmed.
The SRS and the SRSF do not endorse any products discussed in this session.
Complimentary, Advanced Registration is Required.
