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Assessing validity and costs of virtual diagnostics for sleep disorders: A feasibility study
Christoph P Beier1,2,3, Anne Mette Ølholm2, Gonçalo Nuno Bastos Dos Reis Morais2
1Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
|September 8, 2025
Summary
A new virtual diagnostic service (VDS) for sleep disorders uses digital patient data as a first diagnostic step. This approach significantly reduces diagnostic time and costs for patients and healthcare providers.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Digital Health
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Digital patient-reported outcomes are typically used for follow-up, not initial diagnosis.
- Neurological sleep disorder diagnosis often involves lengthy processes and multiple health professional contacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the diagnostic validity and cost-effectiveness of a virtual diagnostic service (VDS) for neurological sleep disorders.
- To evaluate VDS as a first-step diagnostic tool, replacing initial in-person consultations.
Main Methods:
- Developed a questionnaire-based algorithm using American Academy of Sleep Medicine criteria.
- Conducted a blinded assessment of the algorithm's diagnostic validity.
- Analyzed administrative hospital costs, patient travel, and time consumption before and after VDS implementation.
Main Results:
- The VDS algorithm correctly guided diagnostic procedures in 88.4% of cases (Cohen's kappa: 0.84).
- Diagnostic time reduced by 46.7% (226.5 to 120.7 days).
- Average direct costs per patient decreased by 39.6%, with an estimated 40.6% reduction in total costs.
Conclusions:
- Digital diagnostic solutions can serve as an accurate and effective first step in diagnosing neurological sleep disorders.
- VDS offers potential for reduced diagnostic timelines and significant cost savings for both healthcare systems and patients.
