Published in:
01-06-2010 | Original Article
Diagnostic performance of single airflow channel recording (ApneaLink) in home diagnosis of sleep apnea
Published in: Sleep and Breathing | Issue 2/2010
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Background
ApneaLink is a novel single-channel screening device for sleep apnea detection which is based on pressure-transduced measurement of oronasal airflow, summarised as respiratory disturbance index per hour of recording time (RDIApneaLink). We tested ApneaLink's diagnostic performance in a patient population with high prevalence of sleep apnea.
Methods
ApneaLink was applied simultaneously with in-laboratory polysomnography (PSG) (n = 102, 24 female, age 54.7 years) and sequentially with PSG in the unattended home setting (n = 131, 37 female, age 59.1 years). Predictive values were computed for apnea-defining thresholds of apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5/h, ≥10/h, ≥15/h. Night-to-night variability (NNV) was assessed over three consecutive nights (n = 55, 10 female, age 48.9 years).
Results
RDIApneaLink correlated well with apnea–hypopnea index on PSG (PSGAHI) on simultaneous (r = 0.98, bias −0.7) and unattended home application (r = 0.95, bias −0.6). Predictive values were highest at AHI ≥ 10/h (in-laboratory: sensitivity 91.1%, specificity 87.5%, LR+ (positive likelihood ratio) 7.4, LR− 0.1; home: sensitivity 80%, specificity 85.5%, LR+5.5, LR− 0.2). NNV was low \( \left( {V = 0.58 \pm 0.44,{\text{range}}\,0 - 1.69} \right) \).
Conclusion
ApneaLink is an accurate screening tool for sleep apnea in a population with high prevalence of the disorder.