Which testing modality is used in-lab to diagnose sleep apnea?

Which testing modality is used in-lab to diagnose sleep apnea?

• A. Sleep diary
• B. Actigraphy
• C. HSAT
• D. Polysomnography (PSG)

Answer: (D)

Polysomnography is used in-lab to diagnose sleep apnea. This comprehensive sleep study records multiple physiological signals overnight—brain activity, eye movements, muscle tone, heart rhythm, airflow, breathing effort, and blood oxygen levels. By monitoring these parameters in a controlled lab environment, clinicians can identify apnea and hypopnea events, determine their severity, and differentiate between obstructive and central sleep apnea. In contrast, home sleep apnea testing lacks EEG data and sleep staging, so it can miss or misclassify events, and sleep diaries or actigraphy only track sleep timing and movement without detecting respiratory disturbances.

Polysomnography is used in-lab to diagnose sleep apnea. This comprehensive sleep study records multiple physiological signals overnight—brain activity, eye movements, muscle tone, heart rhythm, airflow, breathing effort, and blood oxygen levels. By monitoring these parameters in a controlled lab environment, clinicians can identify apnea and hypopnea events, determine their severity, and differentiate between obstructive and central sleep apnea. In contrast, home sleep apnea testing lacks EEG data and sleep staging, so it can miss or misclassify events, and sleep diaries or actigraphy only track sleep timing and movement without detecting respiratory disturbances.