By Dr. Geraldo Lorenzi Filho
Sleep medicine encompasses several medical specialties, including neurology, otolaryngology, pulmonology, psychiatry, and general practice, as well as related areas such as cardiology, endocrinology, and geriatric medicine. Sleep disorders are extremely common, yet the number of specialists in this field remains insufficient. With the Biologix Sleep Test®, physicians who are not sleep specialists can incorporate the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) into their practice in a simple and accessible way.
Obstructive sleep apnea is highly prevalent. A study conducted in São Paulo with more than 1,000 adult participants from the general population estimated that 33% suffer from this condition. Although the classic symptoms include loud snoring and daytime drowsiness, many OSA patients do not present specific complaints.
Recognizing this disease can be challenging, particularly in patients who seek medical attention for reasons that appear unrelated to sleep. Such cases can easily go unnoticed. In practice, any patient who walks into the office already has a high probability of having OSA. Nevertheless, most remain undiagnosed or without clinical suspicion.
High-resolution nighttime oximetry is a powerful tool that should be integrated into the routine of any medical practice for the detection of sleep apnea. Its use allows pulmonologists and other specialists to diagnose and monitor OSA with ease.
This type of oximetry identifies desaturation episodes and calculates the oxygen desaturation index (ODI), a metric closely related to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) obtained in polysomnography. For patients with severe OSA, the use of automatic CPAP at home for one week provides results comparable to traditional CPAP titration conducted in a sleep lab.
Patients who begin CPAP therapy can undergo a second oximetry test while using the automatic device. The combination of a portable oximetry monitor and automatic CPAP at home for one week effectively addresses most OSA cases. Additionally, many patients benefit from complementary measures such as weight loss, physical activity, treatment for nasal obstruction, or the use of a mandibular advancement device.
High-resolution nighttime oximetry is not only valuable for diagnosing and monitoring sleep apnea, but also for measuring the duration of time with SpO₂ < 90% in patients with respiratory diseases. It is especially relevant for those who use oxygen supplementation, whether via concentrator or cylinder, since it is often unclear if the prescribed flow is adequate during sleep. Therefore, routine nighttime oximetry verification is recommended.
In conclusion, nighttime oximetry represents an accessible and practical method for detecting and monitoring obstructive sleep apnea. Its incorporation into clinical practice enables timely diagnosis and significantly enhances patient care.
By Dr. Geraldo Lorenzi Filho – Pulmonologist
Diretor do Laboratório do Sono do Instituto do Coração, InCor
Livre Docente, Disciplina de Pneumologia, Faculdade de Medicina da USP
Scientific Head of Biologix.
Director Sleep Laboratory, Heart Institute
Associate Professor, Pulmonary Division, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Av. Dr Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar, 44, Laboratório do Sono, oitavo andar
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
CEP, Zip Code : 05403-000
phone: + 55 11 26615486 or 26614004
geraldo.lorenzi@incor.usp.br
Biologix offers an online platform that allows healthcare practitioners to provide their patients with a simplified and low-cost exam for sleep apnea. The Biologix solution is based on portable sensors, apps, and cloud computing.
The diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is extremely important. It can be carried out through polysomnography or the Biologix Sleep Test® a multimodal polysomnography. This test can be performed at home, is simple, practical, effective, and does not require spending the night at a sleep lab.
Learn more about the Biologix solution here!
[lcg ebookimage=’https://www.biologix.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/e-book-gratis-todos-os-medicos-podem-detectar-apneia-do-sono-em-seus-pacientes.jpg’ ebookurl=’https://www.biologix.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ebook_todos-os-medicos-agora-podem-detectar-apneia-do-sono-em-seus-pacientes.pdf’]
Download our e-book free of charge!
[/lcg]
