New insights and potential clinical implications of the odds ratio product

The odds ratio product (ORP) is a continuous metric of sleep depth that ranges from 0 (very deep sleep) to 2. 5 (full wakefulness). Its advantage over the conventional method recommended by AASM is that it discloses different levels of stage wake (sleep propensity) and different sleep depths within the same sleep stage. As such, it can be used to identify differences in sleep depth between subjects, and in the same subjects under different circumstances, when differences are not discernible by conventional staging. It also identifies different sleep depths within stage rapid-eye-movement sleep, with possible implications to disorders during this stage. Epoch-by-epoch ORP can be displayed graphically across the night or as average values in conventional sleep stages. In addition, ORP can be reported as % of recording time in specific ORP ranges (e.g., deciles of the total ORP range) where it produces distinct distribution patterns (ORP-architecture) that have been associated with different clinical disorders and outcomes. These patterns offer unique research opportunities to identify different mechanisms and potential therapy for various sleep complaints and disorders. In this review I will discuss how ORP is measured, its validation, differences from delta power, and the various phenotypes, and their postulated mechanisms, identified by ORP architecture and the opportunities for research to advance management of sleep-disordered breathing, insomnia and idiopathic hypersomnia.