title: [Diagnostic spectrum and filter function of ambulatory sleep centers].
abstract: In a prospective study all first admittances into the outpatient sleep clinics of the Bezirksklinikum Regensburg and the BKH W-ilershof within 6 months were studied. Data of 212 patients (66% men, median age 51 years, ages from 7 to 88 years) were collected and evaluated. In over 40% of the cases the symptoms had persisted for more than 5 years. The most common main diagnoses were: obstructive sleep apnea (34%), psychophysiological insomnia (21%), restless-legs-syndrome including periodic leg movement in sleep (15%) and sleeping disorders in the context of affective disorders (8.5%). After ambulatory diagnostics 56% were referred to the sleep laboratory within the same hospital, 5% were referred to other sleep laboratories, 22% were treated on an outpatient basis, 7.5% received somatic or psychiatric treatment and only 7% of the patients did not need further treatment. Therefore the function of an outpatient sleep clinic as a filter for further treatment can be proven.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy