Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) diagnosis: Sleep study

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) - Diagnosis

How is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) diagnosed?

Consult your physician if you have loud snoring or excessive daytime sleepiness despite getting enough sleep. Your physician will evaluate the possible causes and advise on the appropriate management.

You may be referred to a sleep disorders clinic for a comprehensive evaluation of your problem.

Evaluation of obstructive sleep apnoea includes:

Thorough sleep history
Physical examination and sleep study.
Good history consisting of sleep patterns and presence of any snoring or day time sleepiness.
Examination of the airway via an endoscope to assess for any narrowing of the airway.
Evaluation usually involves an overnight sleep study.

Given the possible long-term complications of obstructive sleep apnoea, it is important for you to follow-up with appropriate treatment once diagnosed.

The management of obstructive sleep apnoea is multidisciplinary in nature, and may involve specialists from medical specialties such as otolaryngology to dental specialties such as oral and maxillofacial surgery and orthodontics.

What is a sleep study?

A sleep study or inpatient overnight diagnostic polysomnography (PSG) is an overnight non-invasive diagnostic test performed in a sleep laboratory.

The PSG monitors the different stages of sleep, breathing effort, oxygen levels, heart rhythm and muscle activity during sleep. The severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) can also be determined.

For certain OSA patients, the portable home sleep test (HST) offers an alternative to the inpatient PSG. Conducted in the comfort of one's bedroom, an HST is not only less expensive than a PSG but also more convenient. However, it provides less detailed information and carries a risk of test failure if the probes are not worn correctly.