[Screening for sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome : data from Liège University Hospital Center with a mandibular movement...

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is an underrated and heavy public health problem. Polysomnography (PSG) remains GOLD-standard examination but we also use ambulatory screening tests including Brizzy, which measures mandibular movements. The aim is to report on our experience with the Brizzy and compare it with PSG data. Data from 812 patients clinically suspected of having OSAHS who underwent a Brizzy screening test prescribed at the University Hospital of Liège between 2012 and 2020 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. These data were compared with data from their subsequent PSG, when available. The characteristics of patients with a positive Brizzy test, i.e., a respiratory disturbance index (RDI) > 15 h-1, were those typically described, namely a majority of men over the age of 50 who were obese. Sixty-seven percent of the patients evaluated had an RDI > 15 h-1, and this index correlated with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) on PSG (R = 0.47, p < 0.0001). Only 26 % of patients with a positive Brizzy test underwent PSG within two years. A Brizzy IPR > 15 h-1 has a sensitivity of 97 % and a positive predictive value of 90 % for detecting an AHI > 15 h-1 on PSG. Thus, the IPR measured by mandibular movements using the Brizzy is an interesting tool for screening for OSAHS.