Diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea using a bio-radar contact-free system compared with an established HST device in older adults

Goal and aims: To compare a bio-radar contact-free monitoring device in diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in older people with an established home sleep apnea testing system (HST).

Focus method/technology: A bio-radar contact-free monitoring device (OrbSense+).

Reference method/technology: An established HST, Alice NightOne.

Sample: Fifty-three out of 63 recruited subjects were included in the final analysis. Seventy-two percent were male (age 72 ± 9 years; body mass index 31.05 ± 5.56 kg/m²).

Design: An observational, prospective study.

Core analytics: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman analysis, and receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Additional analytics and exploratory analyses: None.

Core outcomes: Both 45 (84.91%) were diagnosed with OSA by Alice NightOne (average respiratory event index = 21.23 events/h) and by OrbSense+ (average respiratory event index = 25.98 events/h). Respiratory event index and oxygen desaturation index obtained by Alice NightOne and OrbSense+ were highly correlated, with ICC of 0.93 and 0.88, respectively. The Bland-Altman plot comparing the means showed good agreement between the 2 diagnostic techniques. With more than 5 respiratory events per hour as the standard for OSA diagnosis, OrbSense+ had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 100% in diagnosis of OSA (P < .0001). With more than 15 respiratory events per hour as the standard for OSA diagnosis, OrbSense+ was found to have a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 86.96% in diagnosis of OSA (P < .0001).

Important additional outcomes: None.

Core conclusion: The bio-radar sleep monitoring device is a reasonably accurate home sleep apnea test for use in older patients.