Abstract
In this diagnostic test evaluation of a nasal flow monitoring device for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), 34 patients referred for polysomnography were studied at home for three consecutive nights with the monitor. The mean age of subjects (±SD) was 41.9 ± 10.3 years, and their mean apnea—hypopnea index (AHI) was 31.5±27.2. The difference between the average AHI from three nights at home on the monitor and the polysomnogram (PSG) result was 1.8±17.1. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for PSG AHI ≥ 10 was .96. With a threshold AHI of 18 on the flow monitor, sensitivity was .92, specificity .86, positive predictive value .96, and negative predictive value .75. For detecting severe OSA (AHI ≥ 30), the AUC was .85. With knowledge of appropriate thresholds and the pretest risk of OSA the flow monitor can be used to detect or exclude OSA for sleep-related research, as well as to identify severe cases needing priority for further evaluation.
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The study was funded by Diagnosen and the CRC for Microtechnology, and K.K.H.W. was supported by the National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine. R.R.G. is an NHMRC Practitioner Fellow. The funding sources placed no restrictions on the data analysis or publication of the study. A.R. (who was responsible for the data collection) and K.K.H.W. (who conducted the statistical analysis) declare that they have no competing interests. G.D. has provided paid consultative services to DiagnoseIT and to Respironics, Inc. G.U., J.A.H., and R.R.G. are scientific advisers to DiagnoseIT.
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Wong, K.K.H., Jankelson, D., Reid, A. et al. Diagnostic test evaluation of a nasal flow monitor for obstructive sleep apnea detection in sleep apnea research. Behav Res 40, 360–366 (2008). https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.40.1.360
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.40.1.360