Category

Airflow

Mar 28
Love0

Home Sleep Testing: New Study Confirms the Importance of Direct Airflow Measurement

By Airflow, Children and Adolescence, Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea patients have a high prevalence of comorbid conditions, including cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, which can complicate or limit the effectiveness of indirect diagnostic methods such as peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT). Conditions that affect normal blood circulation, sympathetic tone, or oxygen saturation may compromise the accuracy of PAT-derived results. 

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that the leading PAT-based test dramatically overestimated AHI compared to polysomnography (PSG) in adolescents with overweight and obesity. This finding suggests that PAT may not be a reliable diagnostic tool for sleep apnea in this patient population.

“In this group of adolescents with overweight and obesity, WatchPAT dramatically overestimated AHI compared to PSG, and accurately classified OSA severity in only 10% of participants.”

These findings in adolescents align with observations from studies involving adult populations:

  • A 2022 meta-analysis reported poor agreement between PAT and PSG, with significant misclassification by PAT for adults at mild and moderate OSA severity classes.
  • A study evaluating PAT systems in a large point-of-care cohort, including patients with conditions known to affect physiological signals like atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, asthma, and COPD, concluded: “PAT-based testing presented high rates of diagnostic misclassification of sleep disordered breathing presence or severity.”
  • A comparison study found significant discordance between PAT-based home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) and in-lab polysomnography (PSG) among active-duty military personnel. The authors concluded, “PAT-based HSAT may have limited utility for diagnosing OSA and grading severity in this unique patient population.”

Go With the Airflow

In patients with complex medical histories, airflow-based testing ensures reliable results. Snap Diagnostics’ home sleep test integrates the ‘gold standard’ technology and analysis used in traditional polysomnography. Our wearable device delivers comprehensive data, including true airflow and respiratory effort, for unparalleled accuracy.

To learn more about the published studies supporting this post, please reach out to your local Snap manager or contact us.

Jun 18
Love0

FDA Clears Snap’s Next-Gen Wearable Home Sleep Test – Sleep Review

By Airflow, Sleep Apnea No Comments

Snap Diagnostics is pleased to announce that our next-generation sleep testing device has received FDA 510(k) clearance. The Sleep Apnea Monitor (SAM™) offers Snap’s full range of channels in the form factor of a wearable.

SAM will be available as part of our direct ship testing program starting this fall. Stay tuned!

Read the coverage in Sleep Review
Read the coverage in RT
Nov 08
Love0

Home Sleep Testing: Recent Study Confirms the Importance of Direct Airflow Measurement

By Airflow, Sleep Apnea

When measuring sleep respiratory events, the ‘gold standard’ is direct airflow measurement. Without it, a sleep test relies on indirect markers, such as peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) signals and blood oxygen saturation. These indirect markers will not detect apnea events too short to cause significant desaturation, nor will they accurately differentiate between apnea and hypopnea.

Comorbid conditions complicate and limit indirect diagnostic methods

Sleep apnea patients are reported to have high rates of comorbid conditions, which can complicate or limit the effectiveness of indirect diagnostic methods.

A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine evaluated PAT systems in a large point-of-care cohort, including patients with atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, asthma, COPD, and patients receiving pharmacologic therapies. The findings suggest that conditions and therapies which affect normal blood circulation, sympathetic tone, or oxygen saturation often compromise the accuracy of PAT-derived results. In particular, the study concluded, “the PAT-based testing presented high rates of diagnostic misclassification of sleep disordered breathing presence or severity.”

A second study published on June 1, 2022 in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine confirmed significant discordance between PAT-based testing and in-lab polysomnography (PSG) among active-duty military personnel. The authors concluded, “PAT-based HSAT may have limited utility for diagnosing OSA and grading severity in this unique patient population.”

Go With the Airflow

In patients with complex medical histories, airflow-based testing ensures reliable results. Snap Diagnostics’ home sleep test integrates the ‘gold standard’ technology and analysis used in traditional polysomnography. Our portable device delivers comprehensive data, including true airflow and respiratory effort, for unparalleled accuracy.

To learn more about the published studies supporting this post, please reach out to your local Snap manager or contact us.