Technology can fix the Issue of Underdiagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Apnea, Health News, ET HealthWorld
By Vikram Thaploo
Insufficient sleep and sleep disorders are major global health problems contributing to, for example, reduced quality of life, increased health care costs and sick leaves. One of the widely underdiagnosed but most common sleep disorders is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It is estimated that 93% of Indians are sleep deprived and 65% of them are potential patients for sleep apnea. Among its various symptoms and effects, OSA may also include cardiovascular disease or memory impairment.
One of the major reasons behind the high number of undiagnosed and untreated OSA cases in India is that patients find the diagnostic gold standard of in-lab polysomnography (PSG) cumbersome, expensive and inaccessible. Couple that with the growing physician shortage in the country, there is an urgent need to harness the power of technology to meet the demand, offer healthcare providers much-needed clinical support and provide patients living with OSA the monitoring they need.
Technological Developments for Sleep Disorder Management
A review conducted recently by the STAR (Sleep Technology and Analytics Research) group at the University of Eastern Finland examined upcoming trends in sleep disorder measurement technology, focusing on the possibilities of at-home measurements. Though Polysomnography is the most comprehensive method for diagnosing sleep disorders but due to the high price and limited availability of in-laboratory polysomnography, other procedures, like simple self-applied home sleep recordings, can also be used in the diagnosis of sleep apnea.
Technological advances in measurement technology along with analysis methods based on ML and AI can enable the use of simpler, more effective and more affordable measurements in hospital settings without compromising clinical accuracy. A number of automated methods to analyse sleep recordings have been developed over the recent past and their introduction to clinical practice could free up healthcare resources. For example, recently HealthNet Global launched the 'Good Nidra' programme, a comprehensive sleep programme for the treatment and diagnosis of sleep apnea. This programme provides physicians and OSA patients with a new, alternative screening tool that is comfortable, simple, effective and easy to use. The programme includes screening and diagnosis at home through the latest technology-based devices that are convenient and cost-effective and provide health coaching to ensure compliance and better health outcomes.
Underdiagnosis and undiagnosis can affect people of all genders, ages, body types and backgrounds. So, with new technology enticing the undiagnosed to get tested, the impact can be powerful.
For those living with obstructive sleep apnea but who do not realize it, sleep monitoring solutions that focus on detecting sleep apnea – potentially consisting of more sophisticated tech-enabled devices – are crucial to optimal disease management and the prevention of more serious conditions like cardiovascular and respiratory-related complications. Better quality at-home tech-based measurement methods may also be important for monitoring the progression of sleep apnea, as the severity of this disease usually develops over several years.
Way Forward
With technological advancements, it has become easier than ever for people with sleep apnea to get diagnosed and treated. With new technology, monitoring a patient’s adherence to medical protocols and analysing results to adjust settings, allows healthcare providers to provide appropriate follow-up care. More importantly, these innovations also allow for the analysis of patient sleep patterns while patients are in their normal sleeping situation. This provides more consistent and authentic data, making treatment for sleep apnea easier than it has ever been. Additionally, with an increasing appreciation for the benefits of accessible, home-based care and monitoring, this revolution will increasingly extend into areas like OSA treatment. Once these solutions are made available to those who need them, millions of patients worldwide can rest easier.
Vikram Thaploo, CEO, Apollo Telehealth
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