Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction due to the collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Polysomnography and portable sleep apnea testing (with sensors for respiratory effort, airflow, and oxygen saturation, or alternatively with peripheral arterial tone [PAT], actigraphy, and oxygen saturation) are established methods for diagnosing OSA. Other proposed methods of diagnosing OSA include limited channel home sleep monitors.