Pioneering Contactless Sleep Apnea Detection: Harnessing the Power of Smartphones

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder marked by disrupted sleep and intermittent hypoxia, which is significantly associated with increased cardiovascular risks, including hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. Early recognition and appropriate treatment of OSA are essential to mitigate these health risks. This study presents a novel contactless screening system designed to assess OSA risk using commercially available smartphones equipped with inertial measurement units (IMU) and microphones (MIC). By capturing sleep-related physiological signals, including respiration patterns, heart rate, and snoring, the system computes a Respiratory Event Index (REI). A clinical trial with 293 participants was conducted to validate the system, revealing a strong correlation (r = 0.887) between the estimated REI and the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) derived from polysomnography (PSG). The system achieved a sensitivity of 84.11% and a specificity of 92. 91% to identify severe OSA. Furthermore, the study examined an IMU-only mode to address audio privacy concerns, confirming the utility of motion-based data for screening. These findings underscore the effectiveness of smartphone sensors in providing a reliable alternative for OSA screening, promising improved early detection and intervention strategies in clinical practice.