Automated detection of obstructive sleep-disordered breathing events using peripheral arterial tonometry and oximetry

Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing events terminate with increased sympathetic nervous system activity that may result in vasoconstriction. Peripheral arterial (PAT) is a non-invasive technique for detecting pulse volume, This study assessed the diagnostic potential of 2-channel recordings (PAT+pulse oximetry) to detect sleep-disordered breathing events and evaluated automated scoring of these respiratory events during known sleep. The authors studied 40 patients referred to the sleep lab with suspected OSA, comparing standard PSG with PAT+oximetry (all data recorded simultaneously). The PSG recordings were scored manually using standard criteria. Respiratory events were also scored using only recordings of PAT and pulse oximetry and an automated detection algorithm yielding a PAT-oximetry index (POI) of sleep disordered breathing. There was a significant correlation between PSG scored respiratory events and the automated POI score during all sleep (R=0.87, p<0.001), NREM sleep (R=0.87, p<0.001), anti REM sleep (R=0.90, p<0.001).