Open AccessSleep-disordered breathing: Aids to diagnosis without a polysomnogram
Author(s) -
A Peter
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
african journal of thoracic and critical care medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2617-0205
pISSN - 2617-0191
DOI - 10.7196/ajtccm.2018.v24i4.223
Subject(s) - polysomnogram , polysomnography , medicine , obesity , sleep (system call) , obstructive sleep apnea , population , obesity hypoventilation syndrome , sleep apnea , hypoventilation , breathing , sleep disordered breathing , pediatrics , physical therapy , apnea , cardiology , psychiatry , respiratory system , environmental health , computer science , operating system
The South African population is suffering from an obesity epidemic. Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), which includes obstructive sleep apnoea and obesity hypoventilation syndrome, is closely related to obesity. SDB may have serious health consequences if not asked about when taking a history related to sleep and sleep-deprivation symptoms. Unfortunately, a formal polysomnogram is available to very few patients who need the diagnosis confirmed. However, taking a sleep history, measuring the haemoglobin level and using a much smaller device in the comfort of a patient's bed can obviate the need for formal polysomnography.