How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

Diagnosis starts with your family physician.

There are a number of factors that contribute to poor sleep and it is important to have a thorough medical assessment, which will typically include:

• Completing an Epworth Sleepiness Questionnaire

• Screening for Sleep Apnea using a portable monitor or pulse oximeter that you use in the comfort of your own bed.

• A full sleep study (polysomnography) conducted in a hospital-based sleep disorder clinic.

Ask us about our FREE Screening Program.

Clinical Sleep Solutions is affiliated with the Vancouver Acute Sleep Disorder Program, at the University of BC Hospital.

Overnight Pulse Oximetry

Your physician may recommend that you use a pulse oximeter to screen for sleep apnea. You will use this portable monitor in the comfort of your own bed, usually for one night.

The pulse oximeter measures and records your pulse rate and the level of oxygen in your blood while you sleep. The data is downloaded into computer software that analyzes reductions in your blood oxygen levels (desaturations), and counts the number of apneas and hypopneas so as to determine an Desaturation Event Index (DEI).

Your physician will consider this information, together with other medical symptoms to decide whether to prescribe therapy or refer you to a Sleep Disorder Clinic for a more complete analysis of your sleep issues.

Ask us about our FREE Sleep Screening Program.

Remmer's Sleep Recorder

Overnight PSG study is intrusive, costly, and requires the involvement of both a technician and an interpretative sleep specialist. Convenient sleep apnea diagnostic devices provide an alternative to PSG. These devices use unattended monitoring in the home. The Remmers Sleep Recorder is capable of conveniently generating similar quality data in a home setting, without the involvement of a technician.

What is a Full Sleep Study?

Sleep disorders are complex medical conditions.

You will first have an interview with a Sleep Physician, who will assess your symptoms and determine whether you are a candidate for a full sleep study. If so, you will be scheduled to visit the clinic overnight, during which time you will be tested using Polysomnography, which includes an evaluation of sleep staging, airflow and ventilatory effort, arterial oxygen saturation, electrocardiogram, body position, and periodic limb movements.

Measures of Sleep Apnea

The results of a sleep study will show both the type of sleep apnea, and provide a number of measures of its severity.

The Apnea Index (AHI) is the number of apneas and hypopneas per hour.

Normal is AHI 0-10, mild 10-15, moderate 15-30, and severe 30+.

The degree and frequency of oxygen desaturations may also be an important parameter, particularly in patients with cardiovascular compromise. In general, most clinicians use a subjective mild, moderate, or severe classification if referring to oxygen desaturations.


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