Clinical Value of ApneaLink$^{TM}$ in the Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Abstract

Background and Objectives：Overnight polysomnography (PSG) in a sleep laboratory is the standard method of confirming the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, PSG is expensive, time-consuming, uneasily accessible and labor-intensive, thus the need for ambulatory screening tests. The aim of this study was to find out the usefulness of ApneaLinkTM by comparing respiratory parameters derived from ApneaLinkTM with those of PSG. Subjects and Method：A prospective study was undertaken using 40 patients for whom polysomnography and ApneaLinkTM were performed. Apnea index (AI), hypopnea index(HI), and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from ApneaLinkTM were obtained automatically and those from PSG were scored. All parameters were compared between PSG and ApneaLinkTM. Results：The correlation coefficience of AI, HI, and AHI, which are all attainable by both PSG and ApneaLinkTM, were 0.73, 0.53, and 0.78, respectively. The results of PSG and ApneaLinkTM showed no statistical difference. The positive predictive value was 0.9, sensitivity 91% and specificity 73% in ApneaLinkTM. Conclusion：ApneaLinkTM might be clinically useful as a screening device of OSA and as a follow-up study of patients after surgery based on its high correlation with PSG and positive predictive value. (Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2008;51:878-82)