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Convenient Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea...At Home
A sleep study — also called a polysomnography (PSG) study — can be done in the patient’s home or at a sleep clinic. Either way, you will need to give your patient a referral or prescription for them to pass on to the sleep study provider.
During a sleep study, your patient’s breathing, body movements and other responses during the night are monitored to see if he or she has a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea.
Below is some information you can pass on to your patients about what happens during a sleep study.
At home
There are two types of setups for a home sleep study:
- A home setup is similar to that in a clinic, hospital or sleep lab — with the added comfort and convenience of being in the patient’s own home. Prior to the sleep study night, a sleep clinician will have shown your patients how to apply the sensors and monitors, and how to use the recording device during the night. The night of the sleep test, the patient simply follow a normal evening routine and get ready for sleep, attach everything as shown, and start the recording. In the morning, the patient removes everything as shown and returns the recording device to the clinic, hospital or sleep lab.
- A simpler home setup can be performed using ResMed’s ApneaLink™ Air, a compact, lightweight and easy-to-use home sleep testing device. The ApneaLink Air is capable of recording up to five channels of information, including respiratory effort, pulse, oxygen saturation, nasal flow and snoring. Carolina Sleep Study utilizes the ApneaLink Air.
What do sleep studies measure?
Among other things, the sleep study will indicate the severity of your patient’s condition, which is classified according to an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI).
Measured during the sleep study, AHI refers to the number of apneas and hypopneas your patient has per hour.
| Severity | AHI (per hour) |
|---|
| Normal |
<5 |
| Mild |
5 to <15 |
| Moderate |
15 to <30 |
| Severe |
30+ |
In addition to the patient’s AHI, the diagnosis will take into account the patient’s oxygen desaturation and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Once you receive your patient’s sleep study results, you can then talk to him or her about the condition (if it’s present), its severity, its possible health effects and treatment options.
Treatment Options
There are a variety of sleep apnea treatment options that have varying levels of effectiveness. Learn more about them here to help you decide on the best option for your patient.
Positive airway pressure therapy
Positive airway pressure therapy is widely regarded as the most effective way to treat OSA and certain types of central sleep apnea (CSA). It works by creating a "pneumatic splint" for the upper airway, preventing the soft tissues of the upper airway from narrowing and collapsing. Pressurized air is sent from a therapy device through air tubing and a mask that patients wear over their face, through to the upper airway.
As a result of positive airway pressure therapy, patients with severe sleep apnea may experience a return to a normal sleep pattern once his or her sleep debt resolves. ResMed’s AirSense and AirCurve Series of devices help patients consistently sleep through the four hour compliance threshold – even those who struggle most with compliance.1 AirSense and AirCurve devices are stylish and quiet, and provide a variety of unique features that deliver the ultimate in comfort.
CPAP, APAP and bilevel therapy
Positive airway pressure therapy can be delivered in a number of modes:
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), which delivers pressurized air at one fixed pressure.
- Automatic Positive Airway Pressure (APAP) therapy – which automatically adjusts pressure levels based on a patient’s breathing – may be particularly suited to patients with REM-related sleep apnea, positional apnea or those who are noncompliant with standard CPAP therapy.
- Bilevel therapy – which provides higher inspiratory pressure and lower expiratory pressure – can also be effective for certain patients who are non-compliant. Bilevel therapy can be used to treat conditions other than obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is the first line of treatment for a wide-range of respiratory disorders.
Forms
Patient Self Screening Form Patient Profile Prescription for Study & Device
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