Does testing for sleep-disordered breathing predischarge vs postdischarge result in different treatment outcomes?

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Pulmonology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) treatment can improve post-discharge health.
• Timely sleep testing and therapy provision remain challenging.
• The impact of testing timing on SDB treatment adherence is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare outcomes of inpatient versus outpatient sleep testing for SDB.
• To assess the effect of testing timing on treatment adherence and mortality.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective 10-year study of hospitalized adults with SDB.
• Comparison of inpatient vs. outpatient sleep testing cohorts.
• Analysis of clinical characteristics, follow-up, positive airway pressure adherence, readmission, and mortality.

Main Results:

• Inpatient testing (47%) was associated with higher comorbidity, BMI, and stroke history.
• Inpatient cohort had lower follow-up rates (39.9% vs 50.6%).
• Inpatient group showed increased mortality risk (HR 1.82) but similar readmission rates.

Conclusions:

• Medically complex patients favor inpatient testing but have poorer follow-up.
• This can negatively impact adherence and therapy effectiveness.
• Novel interventions are needed to enhance post-discharge sleep medicine follow-up for SDB patients.