Abstract

BORSINI, Eduardo et al. Strategy for home utilization of respiratory polygraphy handled by the patient. Rev. amer. med. respiratoria [online]. 2013, vol.13, n.1, pp.04-11. ISSN 1852-236X.

Objective: Respiratory polygraphy has become an important tool for the diagnosis of sleep apnea. However, the performance at home carries the risk of registering signs of poor quality, disconnection or difficulties at the moment of turning on the equipment. Few data are available on the procedures when the patient undertakes the setting up of the equipment. This study evaluates the factors which predict the loss or invalidation of registered data in 325 polygraphy records when the equipment had been set up at home by the patients. Methods: Descriptive analysis based on 325 home polygraphy tests from 13/11/2009 until 13/05/2011, coordinated by the Pulmonary Function Laboratory at the British Hospital. The following factors were evaluated as predictors of failure: age (> or < 65 years), educational level, the Epworth sleepiness scale, psychiatric disorders and previous diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Differences were evaluated by t and chi square tests. Results: The study included a total of 325 polygraphs, 62.5% were men, 78.5% patients under 65. Among these cases, 11% had previous diagnosis of OSAS, 14.2% had primary level of education, and 15.4% had a clinical diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. The Berlin Questionnaire showed high risk of OSAS in 88.9% of cases. The measured means were, 32.45 (SD 8.349) in the body mass index (BMI), 8.85 (SD 5.212) in the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), 425.72 minutes (SD 112.042) in the recording time, 17.56 (SD 18.477) in the index of apnea and hypopnea per hour of recording (IAH) and 20.75 (SD 18.133) in the oxygen desaturation index per hour (ODI). The record was successfully performed by 301 patients (92.6%). In 24 cases (7.4%) the record was lost because of: premature shutdown in 12 cases (50%), not connection in 11 cases (45.83%), and disconnection in 1 case (4.16%). There were no differences between patients with polygraphy lost and patients with successful records in terms of age (p = 0.437), ESS value (p = 0.558) prevalence of psychiatric disorders (p = 0.234), previous diagnosis of OSAS (p = 0.309) and educational level (p = 0.760). Conclusions: The respiratory polygraphy can be performed successfully by most patients at home. We did not find clinical features which predict what patients will not succeed in setting up the equipment.

Keywords : Sleep Apnea; Respiratory Polygraphy; Self-installation.

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