Researchers at Mount Sinai have created an automated method for analyzing sleep studies to determine the severity and dangers in people with obstructive sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder.
This condition affects about 30 million Americans.
The research provides a new tool for managing sleep apnea and promoting preventive care.
How it was tested
The study introduced a measure called "ventilatory burden," which looks at the proportion of small breaths during a sleep study.
This measure doesn't rely on the consequences of low oxygen levels or awakenings in sleep apnea people.
Scientists established what's normal for ventilatory burden, how it varies, and its connection to upper airway obstruction.
They also used it to predict the consequences, just like the risk of coronary heart disease.
The main tool for diagnosing sleep apnea is the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), which counts how often a person's breathing partially or even fully stops while they sleep.
However, AHI doesn't predict any potential risks or offer details about any respiratory events.
It's also influenced by various factors, making it variable from one night to the next.
The ventilatory burden measure, on the other hand, is more stable and can predict mortality risks related to cardiovascular disease.
Why is it important?
This test is the first to actually develop and investigate an alternative to AHI, from determining normal ranges to predicting mortality risks.
Researchers plan to use artificial intelligence to build on this measure to replace AHI and identify which people will benefit from this continuous treatment.
