Correlation between screening for obstructive sleep apnea using a portable device versus polysomnography testing in a commercial driving population.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the accuracy of portable monitoring for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with polysomnography (PSG) in commercial drivers.


METHODS
A consecutive case series of drivers were screened for OSA using recent validated consensus conference criteria at a single occupational medicine clinic; those screening positive were tested with a portable OSA screening device while awaiting PSG.


RESULTS
Three hundred forty-six drivers were screened and 34 completed PSG and portable monitoring. Comparing the portable device to PSG at a definition of OSA as an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) >or=15, positive predictive value is 0.64 with a 0.87 negative predictive value. Positive likelihood ratio is 4.20. Linear regression model found statistically significant relationship (P = 0.0004) between the portable device and PSG AHI values.


CONCLUSIONS
Although not perfect, portable monitoring may be useful in further stratifying risk in drivers who have a high probability of having OSA.
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA. marcwatkins@comcast.net
Marc R
MR
Watkins
James B
JB
Talmage
Matthew S
MS
Thiese
Toney B
TB
Hudson
Kurt T
KT
Hegmann
D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009790:Occupations; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014186:Transportation