These devices include single-channel and multi-channel recorders however, there are limited data available regarding their efficacy as screening or diagnostic tools for sleep apnea, compared with PSG.

Although full polysomnography (PSG) is the standard diagnostic test for sleep apnea, 17 the use of a screening device may allow physicians to screen for sleep apnea in a variety of settings, such as patients' homes, hospitals, or extended-care facilities, allowing more effective triaging for sleep center diagnostic testing.Ī number of devices are now commercially available to screen patients for sleep apnea outside the traditional sleep-laboratory setting. Given the prevalence of the disorder in the general population, and the increased prevalence in populations with certain comorbid conditions, screening studies for sleep apnea may play an important role. Current estimates reveal that 93% of women and 82% of men with moderate to severe sleep apnea remain undiagnosed.

15 In areas in which access is not an issue, some patients may be unwilling to undergo a sleep-laboratory study, even when recommended by their physician. 14 Although effective treatment for sleep apnea is available, referral for diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea may be difficult in some settings due to limited access to or availability of sleep specialists and sleep laboratories for diagnostic evaluation. 11, 12 Studies have also demonstrated that sleep apnea is associated with increased rates of traffic accidents 13 and has been identified as a major public health concern. 3 Sleep apnea has been shown to have an increased prevalence in, or association with, morbid conditions such as heart failure, 4, 5 hypertension, 6, 7 cardiovascular disease, 8, 9 cerebrovascular disease, 10 and insulin resistance. 1 It is associated with poor sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, 2 and decreased quality of life. Sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects more than 20 million adult Americans.

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