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Home / What Happens During a Sleep Study? / At-Home Sleep Apnea Tests
AT-HOME SLEEP APNEA TESTS
UPDATED
We regularly update our articles to include the latest research, expand
coverage, and add new information as it becomes available.
January 2, 2024
Written by Afy Okoye
Reviewed by Dr. Michael Breus
Our Editorial Process
Our editorial process includes extensive measures to verify accuracy, provide
clarity on complex topics, and present factual information. Read more
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In the United States, roughly 24 million people live with the symptoms of sleep
apnea without realizing that they have it. For many of them, at-home sleep apnea
testing could be one way to get their condition diagnosed and begin receiving
treatment to improve it.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that causes a person to stop
breathing for brief periods because of a partial or total blockage of the upper
airway. People with OSA experience frequent sleep interruptions and snoring and
may also choke or gasp as they sleep.
Untreated OSA can cause poor-quality sleep and daytime sleepiness, but it also
increases the risk of many serious illnesses. This is why any doctor who
suspects a person has OSA will recommend sleep apnea testing, either in a sleep
lab or at home.
Learning the basics of home sleep apnea tests can help you decide whether to
talk to your doctor about taking one.
Key Takeaways
* At-home sleep apnea tests offer a convenient and accessible way to assess
sleep apnea from home.
* At-home tests involve wearing a small device that monitors sleep patterns.
* Benefits include the comfort of testing at home, cost-effectiveness, and time
efficiency.
* Home tests may have limitations or unclear results and a follow-up study in a
clinic may be required.
WHAT IS AN AT-HOME SLEEP APNEA TEST?
An at-home sleep apnea test is a method of diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea in
a person’s home, rather than in a sleep laboratory. This test uses a portable
device to measure breathing and other health signs while a person sleeps.
At-home sleep apnea tests are different from sleep disorder testing called
polysomnography (PSG). A PSG takes place in a sleep laboratory or sleep clinic,
and a technician stays in the lab to monitor the person as they sleep.
While a PSG is considered the most accurate means of diagnosing obstructive
sleep apnea, at-home testing may be a good alternative for certain people. These
include people whose symptoms suggest that they have moderate or severe OSA and
who don’t have other medical conditions that can affect their breathing while
they sleep.
Doctors do not typically recommend at-home sleep apnea testing for people who
may have other sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy or insomnia, or for people
whose jobs require them to be alert as a matter of public safety.
HOW DO AT-HOME SLEEP APNEA TESTS WORK?
At-home sleep apnea tests use sensors attached to a person’s body to measure
certain variables while they sleep. These measurements can provide doctors with
the information needed to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea.
The number of sensors and types of measurements depends on the specific test
device. The device may collect measurements using a wrist band, finger clip,
chest strap, nasal cannula, and/or sensors placed on the chest or neck. These
instruments may record a sleeper’s:
* Breathing effort
* Snoring
* Airflow
* Blood oxygen level
* Heart rate
* Body position
* Peripheral arterial tone (PAT)
Some at-home tests, called type 3 devices, measure as many as seven variables.
Others, called type 4 devices, measure only up to three variables.
Your doctor can help guide you through setting up the equipment and attaching
the monitoring devices correctly. Most of the time, you will only need to sleep
using the testing equipment for one night in order to collect enough data for
your doctor to interpret.
IS AN AT-HOME SLEEP APNEA TEST RIGHT FOR YOU?
If your doctor suspects that you have moderate or severe obstructive sleep
apnea, and if you don’t have any characteristics that could interfere with the
at-home test results, you might be a good candidate for an at-home sleep apnea
test.
At-home sleep apnea testing may be an attractive option if you are unable to
make an appointment at a sleep clinic or if the only appointments available are
too far in the future. You may also simply prefer to stay in the comfort of your
home, where you are accustomed to sleeping normally.
In general, doctors will not recommend home sleep apnea testing if they think
you could have another sleep disorder or complicated OSA, meaning other health
conditions could worsen your breathing when combined with OSA. Heart failure,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), regular opioid use, and a history
of stroke can all contribute to complicated OSA.
Also, if your job could endanger yourself or other people if you can’t stay
alert, your doctor will likely recommend a more sensitive sleep study in a lab.
If you are a taxi or bus driver, police officer, airline pilot, or another
“mission-critical” worker, becoming drowsy because of a missed OSA diagnosis
could put lives at risk.
It’s worth keeping in mind that taking an at-home test does not guarantee that
you’ll avoid polysomnography. If an at-home test has negative results but your
doctor still thinks you could have OSA, they may recommend that you have
follow-up testing in a sleep lab.
BENEFITS OF DOING AN AT-HOME SLEEP APNEA TEST
At-home sleep apnea tests can offer several benefits. These tests can be:
* Performed in the comfort of your home
* Convenient and easily accessible
* More affordable
* Arranged around your schedule
* Less time-consuming
* Discreet
Having the option of taking the test at home also removes barriers for people
who are reluctant to spend time in a sleep lab. This could lead to OSA being
effectively controlled in people who otherwise would not be diagnosed at all.
WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE TAKING AN AT-HOME SLEEP APNEA TEST
Besides the potential benefits, there are several possible drawbacks to taking a
sleep apnea test at home.
* Less accurate: Although at-home tests continue to improve, they are still
considered less accurate than an in-lab sleep study. At-home sleep apnea
tests are more likely to miss a sleep apnea diagnosis.
* No overnight support: At-home sleep apnea tests are not attended by trained
sleep professionals who can give advice or help with adjusting or
repositioning the equipment.
* Incomplete data: At-home tests cannot collect as much information as in-lab
polysomnography. For instance, they do not record a sleeper’s brain waves.
This limitation means that at-home tests may give an incomplete picture of a
person’s sleep and can’t help to diagnose other sleep disorders a person may
have.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR RESULTS
Anyone who takes a sleep apnea test at home should go over their test results
with their doctor. Home test devices provide raw data for your sleep doctor to
analyze, but they do not diagnose OSA on their own.
When your doctor discusses your results with you, they may bring attention to
your apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). The AHI represents your average number of
breathing disruptions for each hour you have slept during the test. Doctors use
AHI in diagnosing OSA and to determine how severe the condition is.
If your at-home sleep apnea test result is negative or inconclusive, but your
doctor still suspects obstructive sleep apnea, they may order a sleep apnea test
performed in a sleep lab. Some health insurance providers require a second
negative at-home sleep apnea test before covering for polysomnography at a sleep
lab.
PREPARING FOR AN AT-HOME SLEEP APNEA TEST
On the day that you take an at-home sleep apnea test, it’s important to set
yourself up for a good night’s sleep so that the test will successfully collect
enough data. This can involve paying attention to several features of your daily
routine.
* Medications: Unless your doctor has advised you otherwise, continue taking
any medications you usually take.
* Alcohol: Unless your doctor has advised you otherwise, avoid drinking alcohol
the day of the sleep apnea test.
* Caffeine: Stay away from caffeinated drinks such as tea, soda, and coffee
during the afternoon and evening hours.
* Hair and body products: Hair gel, body lotion, face makeup, and similar
products might make it harder for test sensors to stay in place.
* Napping: Try not to nap on the day of the test.
THE BEST HOME SLEEP APNEA TEST
There are various home sleep apnea tests that you or your doctor may select to
evaluate you for OSA, with each using different equipment and processes. Of
these, one FDA-approved test called the Lofta WatchPAT is among the most
advanced options available, and is an excellent choice for people over the age
of 18.
The Lofta WatchPAT measures a number of variables using only a device worn like
a wristwatch, a finger clip, and a chest sensor. These variables include your
heart rate, blood oxygen level, snoring, and chest motion. While you sleep, the
WatchPAT records this data. Then it transmits the data to a sleep doctor using
your cell phone’s Bluetooth signal.
The process for obtaining and taking the Lofta WatchPAT test is simple. First,
you order the test online. Then you have an arranged video chat with a sleep
specialist, after which you select a night to take the test. Following the test,
your results will be available to you and to a sleep specialist, who can make a
diagnosis if appropriate.
Lofta offers customer support as well as sleep coaching for people diagnosed
with sleep apnea after using the WatchPAT. Customers have offered praise for the
WatchPAT’s comfort and price, as well as for how easy they’re found it to use.
REFERENCES (10)
1. Accessed on September 27, 2022.
https://aasm.org/resources/pdf/sleep-apnea-economic-crisis.pdf
2. Accessed on September 24, 2022.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/home-sleep-apnea-testing-for-obstructive-sleep-apnea-in-adults
3. Accessed on September 27, 2022.
https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/obstructive-sleep-apnea/
4. Accessed on September 27, 2022.
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/lung-and-airway-disorders/sleep-apnea/sleep-apnea
5. Accessed on September 27, 2022.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-polysomnography-in-adults
6. Accessed on September 27, 2022.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-presentation-and-diagnosis-of-obstructive-sleep-apnea-in-adults
7. Accessed on September 27, 2022.
https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/sleep-study/
8. Accessed on September 21, 2022.
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003932.htm
9. Accessed on September 27, 2022.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/what-is-a-sleep-study-the-basics
10. Accessed on September 27, 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28942762/
See More
About The Author
Afy Okoye
Staff Writer, Sleep Health
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afy is a writer and creative strategist in San Francisco with a master’s degree
in international health policy from the London School of Economics. She has
written for VeryWell Health, BlackDoctor.org, and Paste magazine and edited
peer-reviewed journal manuscripts for Elsevier. Afy says her work with The Sleep
Doctor is anything but “sleepy.” She enjoys the opportunity to learn new
information and share knowledge that gives people the power to make better
choices. Afy also likes to read non-fiction, do creative writing, and travel
solo.
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