title: [Predictive value of nocturnal pulse oximetry in sleep apnea screening].
abstract: The monitoring of overnight oxygen saturation is widely used for sleep apnoea screening. The point of this screening has been questioned as a wide range of sensitivity has been reported in the literature. In a prospective study 70 subjects presenting with a possible sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome had overnight oximetry followed by polysomnography 2 to 4 months later. Compared to polysomnography, the sensitivity of oximetry for sleep apnoea-hypopnoea was 85.2%, the specificity 77.8% and the predictive value positive 96.3%. When short, non-significant, repetitive desaturations have been declared pathologic, sensitivity increased to 91.8%. In the hands of an expert user, oximetry represents an excellent instrument for detecting patients with sleep apnoea-hypopnoea. Patients with pathological nocturnal oximetry are candidates for nCPAP treatment and therefore should undergo a sleep laboratory investigation.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, Hals- und Gesichtschirurgie, Kantonsspital Luzern.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nuber
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vavrina
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Karrer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*