HST versus HSAT
Nevada Sleep Diagnostics (NSD) has administered Home Sleep Apnea Tests (HSAT) for thousands of patients over the years now.
From a technical perspective, it is an enhanced pulse oximetry device, which gives a good indication of possible sleep apnea.
In comparison, the HST is the "gold standard" in Home Sleep Testing. Using direct signals with a device such as the CleveMed "Sleep View", NSD offers an accurate reading of a persons sleep quality. A HST will give 99 % accuracy for sleep apnea in its various forms: obstructive, hypopneas and central sleep apnea.
The HST can detect isolated snoring events and moments of low oxygen saturation with and without associated respiratory events. It even gives an indication of arrhythmias and positional sleep problems.
Sleep/Wake signals detect sleep disturbances which may occur without respiratory events.
Why Are Sleep/Wake Disturbances Important?
This signal can suggest the presence of stress and anxiety in adolescence. It can also detect sleep events unique to women without common indicators of sleep disturbances, such as: post-menopausal hot flashes and night sweats.
The AASM and Medicare prefer "in-lab" sleep studies for COPD, heart disease and lung disease. However, labs are booked out for months. Additionally, it is very difficult to find an RPSGT with the sufficient experience necessary to detect and provide adequate therapy for these conditions.
Our Proposed Solution
HSTs are very capable devices. NSD believes we should leverage this technology to identify the sleep impact of these diseases in patients early. Then, after positive diagnostic results, we should schedule patients for "In-Lab" CPAP titration.
This solution has the potential to reduce the overall wait time for in-lab studies, as the volume of patients requiring such studies will be reduced. Concomitantly, the demand for uniquely experienced RPSGTs will be reduced, as they will not be focused on performing diagnostics on larger volumes of patients, but rather titrating tailored therapies for patients with known sleep pathologies.
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