Home Sleep Testing: What is it? What are its Pros and Cons
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a condition caused by intermittent and repetitive episodes of partial or complete cessation of airflow due to the collapse of upper airways. As a result of this airway collapse, oxygen level drops in the body causing a negative impact on your health. In order to detect OSA, in addition to symptoms, a test called sleep study is required. The sleep study can be done either in a brick-and-mortar sleep center or at home. When done in a sleep center, the sleep study is called a polysomnogram (PSG). When sleep study is done in the comfort of a patient’s own home, it is called Home Sleep Apnea Testing (HSAT) aka Home Sleep Test (HST).
What is Home Sleep Test or Home Sleep Apnea Test?
Over the last few years, HSAT has gained popularity in the field of sleep medicine because of its convenience, cost-effectiveness, practicality, and efficiency in detecting Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Depending on the HST device, different physiologic parameters are recorded. These include total sleep time, sleep stages, body movement, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing patterns,sleep position, the amount of apneas breathing pauses, etc.
Common Indications For Getting HST Done.
- Your provider may order an HSAT if the following are present:
- Loud snoring
- People report that the patient stopped breathing while sleeping.
- Gasping/choking arousals
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- You are being treated for high blood pressure.
- Large neck
- Obesity
- Male
- Age above 55
When patients have at least three of the above risk factors or symptoms for sleep apnea, talk to your clinician to see if you are a good candidate for HSAT.
When is HST Not The Right Test For You:
- When your doctor suspects sleep disorders other than Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
- If you have any significant heart problems, like heart failure or lung disease.
- If you have a neuromuscular condition causing respiratory muscle weakness.
- If there is hypoventilation, be it awake or sleep-related.
- If you have a history of stroke.
- Severe Insomnia.
Dependent on home sleep testing kits, when a patient doesn’t have a good wifi or doesn’t have the ability to download apps, patient preference, environmental, etc.
Pros of Home Sleep Apnea Testing
Convenience: HSAT does not need the supervision of a sleep technologist. Patients apply the device themselves.
Comfort: HSAT gets done in your familiar sleep environment.
Cost-effective: Home sleep apnea testing is significantly less expensive than in-lab sleep studies. The cost of HST is usually a few hundred bucks, while an in-lab sleep study runs into thousands of dollars.
Accessibility: By utilizing HSAT, larger The HSAT makes sleep apnea testing available to a larger population, particularly those who live in remote or rural locations and have little access to specialized sleep clinics.
Natural Sleep Setting: When compared to sleeping in a lab, testing at home gives a more natural sleep setting, which can produce more representative and reliable results.
Cons of Home Sleep Apnea Testing
Cost-effective: Home sleep apnea testing is significantly less expensive than in-lab sleep studies. The cost of HST is usually a few hundred bucks, while an in-lab sleep study runs into thousands of dollars.
Lack of Real-Time Monitoring: Unlike in-lab studies, the HSAT does not allow for real-time monitoring, adjustments, or treatment to be done in order to improve the test apparatus or address problems.
Dependence on Self-Setup:The accuracy of the test depends on the subject’s capacity to set up and operate the monitoring equipment accurately in accordance with the guidelines supplied.
Lack of Real-Time Monitoring: Unlike in-lab studies, the HSAT does not allow for real-time monitoring, adjustments, or treatment to be done in order to improve the test apparatus or address problems.
Limited Diagnostic Range: HSAT may not be able to identify further sleep disorders or medical illnesses that could be found in a thorough in-lab sleep study.
Conclusion:
The ability to conduct testing in a familiar and comfortable environment makes home sleep apnea testing a practical and affordable method of diagnosing sleep apnea. While it offers a number of benefits, like price and simplicity, it’s important to balance these against the drawbacks, particularly the potential for scant data collection. It is essential to seek the advice of a healthcare professional to choose the best testing procedure based on unique circumstances, assure a correct diagnosis, and establish the best course of therapy for sleep-related problems. Telemedora excels in providing timely and comprehensive virtual sleep care, including home sleep apnea testing and treatment. To see a board-certified sleep physician, call 650-687-7368.
