HAND-SCORING OF MESAM-4 RECORDINGS IS MORE ACCURATE THAN AUTOMATIC-ANALYSIS IN SCREENING FOR OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA

The MESAM 4 system, developed to monitor breathing sounds, heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation (Sao(2)) and body position, was proposed a s a screening method for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The aim of th e study was to assess the accuracy of hand-scoring versus automatic-sc oring in screening for obstructive sleep apnoea. The study population consisted of 56 patients, 51 males, and 5 females, mean age 47+/-10 yr s, suspected of having obstructive sleep apnoea. Full polysomnography and MESAM 4 recordings were performed simultaneously. The apnoea+hypop noea index was hand-scored iu polysomnography and in MESAM 4. The hand -scoring in MESAM 4 was based on analysis of breathing sounds, heart r ate and Sao, changes taken together. The automatic-scoring system of M ESAM 4 calculated oxygen desaturation index, heart rate variation inde x and intermittent snoring index. The diagnosis of obstructive sleep a pnoea (apnoea+hypopnoea index greater than or equal to 10) was establi shed by polysomnography in 37 patients. Sensitivity and specificity of hand-scored MESAM 4 diagnosis were 100 and 63%, respectively. Sensiti vity and specificity of MESAM 4 diagnosis with automatic-scoring were: from oxygen desaturation index 100 and 27%; from heart rate variation index 81 and 74%; and from intermittent snoring index 92 and 16%, res pectively. We suggest that hand-scoring of MESAM 4 is more accurate th an automatic-scoring in screening for obstructive sleep apnoea