Bedside approach in the diagnosis obstructive sleep apnea using postprandial oximetry testing: A comparative study...

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Diagnostic Testing
• Cardiorespiratory Monitoring

Background:

• Polysomnography (PSG) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosis faces accessibility and cost challenges in developing nations.
• A need exists for effective outpatient screening tests for initial OSA assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the Postprandial Oximetry Test (POT) as a novel daytime screening method for OSA.
• To assess the utility of POT in identifying patients with suspected OSA.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-center study involving 101 patients (80 with suspected OSA).
• Patients underwent the Postprandial Oximetry Test (POT) and Polysomnography (PSG).
• POT involved 1-hour monitoring of SpO2 after lunch; moderate-to-severe OSA was defined by SpO2 drops below 90%.

Main Results:

• POT demonstrated a mean lowest oxygen saturation of 87.42 ± 1.39.
• A significant positive correlation was observed between POT and PSG-derived Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI).
• POT achieved 85% sensitivity, 85.7% specificity, and 0.903 accuracy for detecting moderate-to-severe OSA.

Conclusions:

• The Postprandial Oximetry Test (POT) shows potential as an effective outpatient screening tool for suspected OSA.
• POT can serve as a valuable 'gatekeeper' test, guiding patients towards Polysomnography (PSG).