Home Diagnosis and Therapy of Sleep Apnea a Viable Option

Home-based diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be a viable option for patients who do not have access to a sleep laboratory for testing, shows a new study. Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, compared sleepiness, sleep quality, quality of life, blood pressure, and CPAP adherence in 102 patients randomized to receive either diagnosis and treatment at home or in a sleep laboratory. After 4 weeks of CPAP therapy, there was no significant difference between the two groups in regard to any sleep measures or CPAP compliance. Researchers conclude that select subjects with suspected OSA could be diagnosed and treated at home. This article is published in the August issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.

CHEST 2010; 138(2):257–263