Sleep studies for the diagnosis of OSA
Pneumosfera offers the possibility of carrying out sleep studies for the diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and other pathologies, either at an individual level or through a mutual insurance company.
Diagnostic studies are carried out at home with state-of-the-art equipment, always with the support and supervision of medical professionals. Tests are performed while the patient sleeps:
- Sleep screening. This test provides the risk index for OSA. It records different simple variables during the night while the patient sleeps such as snoring, pulse, air flow or the level of oxygen saturation in the blood (nocturnal pulse oximetry). Analysis of these variables will indicate the level of risk of developing sleep apnea.
- Respiratory polygraphy (RP). Patients with a clear suspicion of having OSA, or with a positive screening result, need a respiratory polygraphy test. It is a more complex test that allows for a more thorough diagnosis of the patient’s respiratory events and patterns for the control of their treatment.
Sleep studies are carried out in two stages:
- Diagnosis. The diagnosis is made up of 3 phases: appointment, explorations and tests and, finally, the result, the diagnosis itself. The medical staff follows up on each case to conclude if the patient requires pressure titration and treatment.
- Pressure titration for OSA treatment. If the diagnostic test is positive and the patient needs positive pressure treatment (CPAP/AutoCPAP), Pneumosfera can install clinically validated equipment to determine the pressure required for the treatment (titration process). This equipment is installed in the patient’s home for a few days during which the medical staff performs the study, analyzes the data obtained and establishes the titration of the necessary pressure. It also offers the possibility of acquiring the equipment directly with telemonitoring and pressure titration, without going through the trial or titling period, and thus speed up this stage of the sleep study.
After the study, in case the patient requires treatment, Pneumosfera will install a CPAP or AutoCPAP equipment with the programmed pressure obtained in the titration. In addition, the necessary training will be given for the optimal use of the equipment and for correct adherence.
To request a sleep study, it is essential to have medical authorization.
FAQ
Who is the personalized sleep study for?
It is designed for individual patients who want to know if there is any sleep disturbance:
- Patients with the possibility of suffering from sleep apnea, who show symptoms such as snoring, daytime sleepiness, breathing disturbances at night, breathing pauses during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness or constant fatigue.
- People with risk factors, who suffer from a pathology that can increase the risk of developing sleep apnea, such as obesity.
- Patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and treated with CPAP who have again noticed alterations or worsening of sleep quality.
- Individuals with other respiratory disorders, who may be experiencing other breathing problems during sleep and require further evaluation.
This same service can also be aimed at insurers, mutual insurance companies, hospitals and health centres that need to outsource this service.
How does the application process work?
If you are a private patient:
- Contact your doctor to assess whether this test is necessary.
- You’ll need a doctor’s prescription stating the need for the test.
- Contact us to schedule an appointment to conduct the study.
- We will explain how the test should be performed.
- We will give you the equipment and pick it up once the study is finished.
- We will give you the results and, if necessary, our healthcare staff will review them.
In the case of healthcare centers or mutual insurance companies, contact Pneumosfera to coordinate the study directly with the patients.
How is the sleep study performed?
The prescribing medical staff will determine what type of test is needed to evaluate for the possible sleep disorder. Tests that may be performed include polysomnography, polygraphy, pulse oximetry, and titration.
All these tests are performed while the patient sleeps and, in most cases, are carried out in the patient’s own home. Detailed instructions on how to perform the test will be provided. In addition, Pneumosfera offers a 24-hour support service to answer any questions that may arise during the process.
We use clinically validated equipment and the analysis of the data obtained will be carried out by specialized medical personnel.
What happens after the study is finished?
Once the sleep study is complete, the Pneumosfera healthcare staff will collect the equipment used and extract the data. After analyzing the data, a report will be prepared and sent to the patient to present to their doctor, who will evaluate the results.
If the patient prefers, our medical staff specializing in sleep can analyze the data and provide a diagnosis directly.
Depending on the diagnosis, different therapies may be prescribed to treat the pathology detected. The medical staff will indicate the steps to follow after receiving the diagnosis.