Home Sleep Testing Guidelines
UM Shore Regional Sleep Disorders Center does offer a home sleep testing option for patients. All of our patients receive training with the home sleep testing equipment, the same day of testing, by one of our specially trained staff/technician. All studies are read by a board-certified sleep medicine physician.
Home Sleep Testing Screening
Home sleep testing DOES NOT take the place of in-lab sleep testing and patients must be properly screened. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends home sleep testing should only be used in patients with higher clinical suspicion of moderate to severe sleep apnea without co-morbidities. If a patient has one or more of the following co-morbidities, they will not meet home sleep testing criteria:
- Chronic pulmonary disease including COPD, Asthma, ILD
- Significant cardiac disease including heart failure, arrhythmias, valvular heart disease
- Neuromuscular disease
- Clinical suspicion of central sleep apnea with prior cardiac, CNS disease or medications
- Stroke
- Chronic pain medications
- Body Mass Index greater than or equal to 50
- Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome
Other limiting factors include:
- Patient's ability to follow instructions to the extent they will be able to apply the home sleep testing equipment
- Patient must have transportation to pick up and drop off equipment
Physician Ordering Process
Currently, home sleep testing requires consultation for proper pre-test screening with one of the following board certified sleep physicians: