title: Targeted case finding for OSA within the primary care setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to determine the feasibility of using an unattended 2-channel device to screen for obstructive sleep apnea in a population of high-risk patients using a targeted, case-finding strategy. The case finding was based on the presence of risk factors not symptoms in the studied population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study took place from June 2007 to May 2008 in rural and metropolitan Queensland and New South Wales. Family doctors were asked to identify patients with any of the following: BMI > 30, type 2 diabetes, treated hypertension, ischemic heart disease. Participants applied the ApneaLink+O2 at home for a single night. The device recorded nasal flow and pulse oximetry. Data were analyzed by proprietary software, then checked and reported by either of two sleep physicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1,157 patients were recruited; mean age 53 ± 14.6, M/F% = 62/38, mean BMI = 31.8, obesity = 35%, diabetes = 16%, hypertension = 39%, IHD = 5%, Mean Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (ESS) = 8.3. The prevalence of unrecognized OSA was very high: 71% had an AHI > 5/h, 33% had an AHI > 15/h, and 16% had an AHI > 30/h. The ApneaLink+O2 device yielded technically adequate studies in 93% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study shows that a "real world" simple low cost case finding and management program, based on unattended home monitoring for OSA, can work well in a population with risk factors and comorbidities associated with OSA, independent of the presence of symptoms. The prevalence of unrecognized OSA was very high.
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Respiratory Group, Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia. krburgess@optusnet.com.au
authors.forename: Keith R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Havryk
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Willis H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Whitelaw
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D009517:New South Wales; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011793:Queensland; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: ApneaLink; Obstructive sleep apnea; unattended sleep study