Consumer technology including wearables, artificial intelligence (AI) use across different industry segments, and policy and funding issues were among the top trends impacting sleep medicine in the first quarter of 2026, according to a new paper from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).
The paper — State of Sleep Medicine Report for Q1 of 2026 — was published April 10 and is now available to AASM members.
The summary noted the following trends:
— Consumer technology expands its reach. Sleep health and data are increasingly being considered “part of broader wellness monitoring,” AASM said, citing Samsung’s Galaxy Watch, which can identify sleep apnea risk. At the same time, retail platforms such as Amazon One Medical “can influence the pathways through which patients seek evaluation for sleep-related symptoms,” even when the platforms aren’t specifically focused on sleep health.
— AI is being used in clinical research, consumer health tools and regulatory activity, thus demonstrating its growing usage in the sleep health space. “The FDA has announced plans to use agentic AI to support premarket review and post-market surveillance activities, signaling broader adoption of these tools in evaluating devices and therapies,” the report said.
— More treatment options are available, via devices and medications. “Progress in oral therapies for obstructive sleep apnea, including candidates from companies such as Apnimed and Incannex, reflects continued interest in alternatives to positive airway pressure,” the report said. And treatment device options are also expanding, such as LivaNova’s aura6000 system for adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. The aura6000 uses proximal hypoglossal nerve stimulation to ultimately provide better control of tongue muscle movement to keep the patient’s airway open during sleep.
— Sleep apnea and weight management connection continues to get a lot of attention. AASM’s report noted the “intersection of sleep medicine and obesity management,” as “weight-loss therapies are increasingly part of care conversations for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.” While the popularity of GLP-1 medications to control weight continues, AASM pointed also to those medications’ potential side effects, such as increased risk for osteoporosis and gout.
— Reimbursement has a daily impact. The recent extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities — now in place through 2027 — as well as new HCPCS codes for hypoglossal nerve stimulation procedures and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) campaign to “address the administrative burden across health care” are among the funding and policy issues that affected sleep medicine practices in Q1, AASM said.
— Sleep health is still a prominent topic. As demonstrated earlier by the growth of consumer technology related to sleep, there’s significant public interest in getting a better night’s sleep … as well as in achieving more of those better nights. But sleep shortfalls are still a concern for children, adolescents and adults. And the AASM continues to advocate for changes to daylight savings time changes, noting that British Columbia will stay on daylight savings time permanently beginning this year.
“Taken together, recent developments point to steady movement across technology, therapeutics, policy and public awareness in sleep medicine,” AASM said. “Monitoring these trends remains important as the field adapts to an evolving health care landscape.”
