Diagnosis of OSA

Figure 4. Patient instrumented for a polysomnography study.

Polysomnography, usually involving an overnight sleep study, is required to formally diagnose OSA. It is usually performed in a specialized sleep center, where numerous body functions are monitored and scored (e.g., respiratory pattern, pulse oximetry, electroencephalogram [EEG], electrooculogram [EOG], and chin electromyogram [EMG]).

Figure 4 (right) and Figure 5 (below) illustrate the process.

Figure 5. Sample polysomnography recording showing apnea periods with subsequent desaturation events.

Figure 4 image credit: originally from REM Sleep Diagnostics Inc.
Figure 5 image credit: originally from University of Kansas