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If a person has OSA, there are two types of studies that can potentially detect it. The first is an overnight sleep study called polysomnography, which is conducted in a hospital or lab. The second is a home sleep apnea test, which does not usually measure the brain waves during sleep.
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Home sleep apnea testing, conducted in the comfort of one’s own home, is often a convenient and cost-effective option. While not everyone can accurately diagnose obstructive sleep apnea using this method, it can be effective for some individuals. It is also known as a polygraph (PG), an out-of-center (OOC) recording, an out-of-center sleep test (OCST), or a home sleep test (HST). When an overnight test is conducted outside of a hospital or sleep lab, it is referred to as a home sleep apnea test (HSAT).
During one night, you sleep in your usual manner, but with particular gadgets attached to your body for data collection. You diligently adhere to the instructions on how to utilize the different testing devices provided. Typically, you need to acquire specialized equipment from your doctor’s office or a sleep clinic when undergoing a home sleep apnea test.
After the completion of the test, the equipment typically needs to be returned, though there are some newer tests that are disposable. A sleep specialist will examine the data to determine if you meet the requirements for obstructive sleep apnea.
The data they collect is categorized according to how much they collect. They collect more detailed data from two types of sleep tests: Type 1 and Type 2. For example, a technician classifies Type 1 sleep tests as polysomnography tests performed in a lab. Generally, Type 4 or Type 3 sleep tests, which collect less data, are conducted at home. The equipment used in your home sleep apnea test depends on the type of test ordered by your medical provider.
Your at-home sleep apnea testing devices may consist of multiple pieces of equipment.
Some specific specialized devices might be utilized to assess additional factors connected to sleep apnea.
To qualify for testing three types of sleep apnea at home, measurements of the different types must be collected using HSAT as a measure.
Type 4 assessments gather one or two measurements, which might incorporate:
Additional data can be gathered, including the frequency or intensity of snoring, as well as movements of the body.
The system’s name is SCOPER, which stands for Sleep, Cardiovascular, Oximetry, Position, Effort, and Respiratory. SCOPER includes measurements related to sleep, cardiovascular activity, oximetry, position, and respiratory effort. However, the current sleep test categorization system does not take into account the measurements obtained by alternative tests like WatchPAT or ARES.
When analyzed by a sleep expert, these examinations solely assess respiration and gather additional information that can assist in identifying sleep-related breathing issues. Individuals undergoing a sleep apnea test at home should be mindful that, for the most part, these examinations are unable to detect sleep-wake patterns.
Engage in a conversation about the outcomes, have another consultation with your physician, conduct the examination in the comfort of your own home, acquire the necessary apparatus, and have a consultation with a healthcare specialist. The procedure for a home sleep apnea test can differ based on the individual who requests or conducts it. Typically, the process entails.
Sleep-related breathing problems, such as sleep apnea, are exclusively identified through the utilization of home sleep tests. On the other hand, other sleep disorders, like narcolepsy and periodic limb movement disorders, can be diagnosed by means of in-lab sleep studies. The distinction lies in what these tests assess. While factors such as airflow, blood oxygen levels, and heart rate are typically measured in both tests, monitoring brain activity is typically done solely through in-lab sleep studies to evaluate sleep.
People often prefer a home sleep study since it usually involves less invasive devices and does not require traveling to a sleep lab, which can be expensive. Additionally, a home sleep study is more likely to pick up symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea or other sleep conditions, since it may feel less invasive than a study conducted in a sleep lab.
If you have a straightforward case of suspected severe or moderate sleep apnea, you may believe that it is worthwhile to skip the testing in a clinic or lab and directly go to testing sleep at home. Another possibility is that the results of testing sleep at home may further indicate the need for a more comprehensive test in a lab. If you have any reason to believe that your doctor may need you to have a more comprehensive test, then it might be worthwhile to skip the testing at home and go directly to a sleep lab.
Usually, at your next doctor’s appointment, you could bring up the possibility of testing for sleep apnea, which refers to people who might have sleep apnea and determines what type of sleep apnea they have. Typically, this would involve seeing a specialist in sleep medicine or a sleep specialist.
References
5 Sources.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s clinical practice guideline for diagnostic testing of adult obstructive sleep apnea, published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, provides recommendations for healthcare professionals. The guideline, which was released in 2017, was developed by a team of experts including Harrod, C. G., Ramar, K., Mehra, R., Kuhlmann, D. C., Chowdhuri, S., Auckley, D. H., & Kapur, V. K.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28162150/
The study conducted by Penzel et al. (2019) compared the use of sensor sound tracheal and sensor plethysmography inductance respiratory, transducer pressure nasal, sensor airflow thermal oronasal for the detection of apnea in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 15(2), 285-292.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30736876/
In 2005, Nicholson, D., Henninger, V., Velimirovic, V., Zavora, T., Cvetinovic, M., Levendowski, D. J., And Westbrook, P. R. Conducted a validation and description of a novel method to diagnose sleep apnea, known as the apnea-hypopnea risk evaluation system, in the chest.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16236870/
In a study conducted in 2020, N. A. Improving et al. Focused on enhancing the accuracy of diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea through the use of tonometry-based arterial peripheral testing. They aimed to improve the performance of this diagnostic method by investigating its effectiveness in the field of medicine. The authors of this study include J. S. Collop, M. M. Allam, R. Ciavatta, N. Eisenstein, A. Anand, B. Samarghandi, S. A. Fields, C. Dholakia, and O. Ioachimescu.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32900784/
On February 14, 2023, UpToDate retrieved information from Ed. Harding M. S. (In.) Regarding obstructive sleep apnea in adults and home testing for sleep apnea. (N. Collop, January 12, 2022).
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/home-sleep-apnea-testing-for-obstructive-sleep-apnea-in-adults
Learn More About Sleep Studies
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the price of home sleep studies?
The price range for home sleep apnea testing in the U.S. Typically ranges from $150 to $500. Generally, health insurance will cover a portion or all of the expenses. It is possible that you will have to pay the insurance deductible if you haven’t done so already.
How Reliable Are Home Sleep Apnea Tests?
The accuracy of the test decreases in individuals who have specific additional medical conditions or sleep disorders. When it comes to individuals who are believed to have a moderate or severe type of sleep apnea, type 3 home sleep apnea tests are extremely precise in detecting the condition.
How Many Times Can I Take a Sleep Apnea Test at Home?
Previously, individuals typically opt for a home sleep apnea examination exclusively. However, if this test proves insufficient in diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea, it may be recommended to undergo an in-lab, overnight sleep analysis.
What Home Tests Can Identify Sleep Disorders?
Home testing is only used to detect sleep-disordered breathing problems, such as obstructive sleep apnea. Existing home tests do not have the capability to diagnose other sleep disorders, as they do not actually measure the brain waves during sleep.
Does insurance cover sleep apnea studies conducted at home?
If you want to confirm that your specific test falls under insurance coverage, you may need to take it before your insurance deductible. For example, Medicare Part B requires people to pay a portion of the study costs as well as the deductible to be covered by insurance for a sleep test prescribed by a sleep specialist. The amount of coverage depends on the medical provider and insurance company. Many health insurance plans cover home sleep apnea tests.
Who Should Avoid Undergoing a Home Sleep Study?
Although a sleep study in a lab is recommended by experts for people who are suspected to have sleep apnea, a home sleep test may be useful for many people who have certain factors that make it less accurate.
Alternatively, your sleep specialist might suggest a laboratory study if they suspect you have mild sleep apnea. Detecting mild sleep apnea may be less precise during a home sleep study as well.
Are There any Disadvantages to Home Sleep Testing?
When studying sleep at home, doctors often order an in-lab sleep study, for the reason that negative feedback often comes when studying sleep at home. The biggest risk of having a home sleep apnea test is the potential for being misdiagnosed as not having obstructive sleep apnea, rather than actually having a milder version than they actually have.
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Written By.
Jay Summer, Staff Writer
Content writer and editor Jay Summer is a health. Psychology in B.S. A holds She policy public and writing in degrees master’s.
Reviewed by a healthcare
Dr. Abhinav Singh, Sleep Medicine Physician MD
Dr. Singh serves as the Medical Director of the Indiana Sleep Center. His research and clinical practice revolve around a wide range of sleep disorders.