Validation of a single-channel airflow monitor for screening of sleep-disordered breathing.
A simple screening method for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is desirable for primary care practices. In the present study, a simple monitor, which utilises a new type of flow sensor and a novel algorithm, was prospectively validated. Home recording for 2 nights with the monitor only, followed by in-laboratory recording with the monitor together with polysomnography, were carried out in consecutive patients (n = 100) suspected of SDB. A subjective sleep log was also recorded. The signal was analysed using power spectral analysis, which yielded the flow respiratory disturbance index (flow-RDI). There was no recording failure at home. The reproducibility of the flow-RDI between the 2 nights at home was high (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.92). The sensitivity and specificity of the in-laboratory flow-RDI to diagnose SDB were 0.96 and 0.82, 0.91 and 0.82, and 0.89 and 0.96, for apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) > or =5, > or =15 and > or =30 events x h(-1), respectively. The diagnostic ability in low-severity subgroups (female, normal weight, AHI <15 events x h(-1)) was almost comparable to that in the entire group. Excluding subjective waking time on the sleep log from the recording time had no significant effect on the flow-RDI. The single-channel monitor is considered feasible for ambulatory sleep disordered breathing monitoring because of its easy applicability, high reproducibility and relatively high agreement with polysomnography results.
Nakano
H
H
Dept of Pulmonology, Fukuoka National Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan. nakano_h@palette.plala.or.jp
Tanigawa
T
T
Ohnishi
Y
Y
Uemori
H
H
Senzaki
K
K
Furukawa
T
T
Nishima
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012890:Sleep; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*