Reliability of telemedicine in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea syndrome

Effectiveness of remote monitoring in improving CPAP compliance and the impact of preexisting organisation of standard care: a randomised controlled trial

PURPOSE   : Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is often the treatment of choice for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Short-term adherence and early perceived benefits are the best predictors of long-term adherence. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of telemonitoring in the first period of treatment with CPAP (auto-titrating PAP) on compliance and the long-term outcome.

METHODS

Patients aged between 18-75 years old with symptomatic severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 30) requiring CPAP therapy were included in this single-blind, single-centre, randomised, controlled trial. They were divided into 2 groups (telemonitored standard clinical care versus standard clinical care without telemonitoring).

RESULTS

A total of 230 patients (115 patients/group) were included (mean age 54 ± 16.6 years, BMI 32.6 ± 5.4 kg/m2, ESS 13.1 ± 6.2, AHI 47.5 ± 14.8/hr). At week 10 compliance was similar in both groups (telemonitoring vs control 6:27 and 6:35 h, respectively, p = 0.57), as were AHI (2.4; 2.4/hr, p = 0.89) and ESS (5.8; 4.9, p = 0.22). The number of contacts of a patient with a healthcare professional was significantly higher during the follow-up from week 3 until week 10 (0.25; 0.13, p = 0.03). The number of patients who could be evaluated after 1 year was equally distributed in both groups (104; 104, p = 1.00), as were compliance (6:43; 6:49 h, p = 0.59) and residual AHI (1.9; 2.2/hr, p = 0.41).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with severe OSA with standard intensive follow-up during the initial weeks of CPAP therapy and good compliance, telemonitoring did not improve CPAP compliance nor the clinical outcome in the short or long term. The practical consequences can be highly relevant for patients and healthcare professionals.

Digital health delivery in respiratory medicine: adjunct, replacement or cause for division?

Digital medicine is already well established in respiratory medicine through remote monitoring digital devices which are used in the day-to-day care of patients with asthma, COPD and sleep disorders. Image recognition software, deployed in thoracic radiology for many applications including lung cancer screening, is another application of digital medicine. Used as clinical decision support, this software will soon become part of day-to-day practice once concerns regarding generalisability have been addressed. Embodied in the electronic health record, digital medicine also plays a substantial role in the day-to-day clinical practice of respiratory medicine. Given the considerable work the electronic health record demands from clinicians, the next tangible impact of digital medicine may be artificial intelligence that aids administration, makes record keeping easier and facilitates better digital communication with patients. Future promises of digital medicine are based on their potential to analyse and characterise the large amounts of digital clinical data that are collected in routine care. Offering the potential to predict outcomes and personalise therapy, there is much to be excited by in this new epoch of innovation. However, these digital tools are by no means a silver bullet. It remains uncertain whether, let alone when, the promises of better models of personalisation and prediction will translate into clinically meaningful and cost-effective products for clinicians.

Telemedicine for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: An updated review

Telemedicine (TM) is a new medical service model in which computer, communication, and medical technologies and equipment are used to provide "face-to-face" communication between medical personnel and patients through the integrated transmission of data, voice, images, and video. This model has been increasingly applied to the management of patients with sleep disorders, including those with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). TM technology plays an important role in condition monitoring, treatment compliance, and management of OSAS cases. Herein, we review the concept of TM, its application to OSAS, and the related effects and present relevant application suggestions and strategies, which may provide concepts and references for OSAS-related TM development and application.

Positive airway pressure telehealth models and long-term therapy termination: a healthcare database analysis

Background

Telemonitoring-guided interventions can improve short-term positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy adherence, but long-term effects are unknown. This study investigated long-term PAP therapy termination in patients with sleep apnoea managed with standard care, telemonitoring-guided proactive care or telemonitoring-guided proactive care + patient engagement tool.

Methods

German healthcare provider data were analysed retrospectively. Individuals aged 18-100 years who started PAP from 2014 to 2019 and had device type/interface data were included. Time-to-termination periods were analysed using Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusted for age, sex, insurance type, and device and mask type.

Results

The per-protocol population (valid telemonitoring data) included 104 612 individuals (71% male; 95% aged >40 years). Mean follow-up was 3.3±2.0 years. The overall therapy termination rate was significantly lower in the telemonitoring-guided proactive care group versus standard care (20% versus 27%; p<0.001), and even lower in the telemonitoring-guided care + patient engagement tool group (11%; p<0.001 versus other treatment groups). Adjusted risk of therapy termination was lower versus standard care (hazard ratio 0.76, 95% confidence interval 0.74-0.78; and 0.41 (0.38-0.44) for telemonitoring-guided proactive care alone + patient engagement). Age <50 or >59 years and use of a nasal pillows or full-face mask were significant predictors of therapy termination; male sex, use of telemonitoring-guided proactive care (± patient engagement) and private insurance were significantly associated with lower therapy termination rates.

Conclusions

Use of telemonitoring-guided proactive care and a patient engagement tool was associated with lower rates of PAP therapy termination.

APAP Treatment Acceptance Rate and Cost-Effectiveness of Telemedicine in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the treatment acceptance rate and cost-effectiveness of the telemedicine model in clinical practice for adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients admitted to the sleep center for snoring were randomly divided into telemedicine and control groups. Patients diagnosed with moderate-to-severe OSA using the Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT) were voluntarily treated with auto-adjusted positive airway pressure (APAP) therapy. The acceptance rate of the APAP treatment, cost of patient visits, time cost, and labor cost of doctors in the two groups were observed.

RESULTS

A total of 57 subjects were included, with an average age of 40.12±11.73 years, including 47 males (82.5%); 26 patients were in the telemedicine group, and 31 were in the control group. Follow-up results showed that the acceptance rate of APAP treatment was 57.7% and 54.8% in the telemedicine and control groups, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.829). The cost-benefit analysis showed that the telemedicine group reduced the cost of patients' medical treatment [-457.84(-551.19,1466.87)] but increased the extra intervention frequency and time outside the doctor's office. Further analysis showed that male subjects of older age, higher education level, distant residence, no fatty liver, poor sleep quality, severe insomnia, and higher OSA severity were more likely to receive telemedicine diagnosis and treatment.

CONCLUSION

The APAP treatment acceptance rate and compliance of OSA patients in the telemedicine group were similar to those in the control group, and the cost of patients' medical treatment was reduced. However, telemedicine increases the frequency and duration of additional out-of-hospital interventions.

Accuracy of positive airway pressure titration through telemonitoring of auto-adjusting positive airway pressure device connected to a pulse oximetry in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

PURPOSE

In COVID-19 era, all forms of access of patients to the sleep units should be reduced as much as possible when implementing telemedicine. In the field of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) therapy with positive airway pressure (PAP) devices, telemedicine includes the use of built-in software (BIS) and storage of PAPs and remote-controlled data (BISrc data) that are processed and transmitted daily to sleep units. We compared two methods of evaluating the final residual severity of OSA patients in home PAP titration: BISrc data versus nocturnal portable multichannel monitoring (PM) data in PAP (reference method) and to verify whether the efficacy PAP therapy guided by BISrc data was clinically adequate.

METHODS

We conducted a real-life prospective study in newly diagnosed patients with OSA. Patients used an auto-adjusting positive airway pressure (AirSense 10 ResMed) with a pulse oximeter that allows daily transfer of BISrc data (apnea hypopnea index [AHI] and SaO2 ) and remote changes in ventilator setting. Once the PAP titration was completed, the pressure value or ranges were kept constant for 3 days and home PM was repeated.

RESULTS

There were 41 patients with moderate to severe OSA who completed the study. When considering AHI only, the diagnostic accuracy of BISrc on the third day was equal to 97.5%; when considering AHI > 10/h, ODI > 10/h, and SaO2  < 90%, the diagnostic accuracy slightly decreased to 90.2%.

CONCLUSION

In clinical practice, the two measurement methods are equivalent. The use of BISrc data for home titration would reduce the access to sleep units. We urge that widespread use of BISrc be promoted in the current practice of management of OSA.

Improving the management of patients with chronic cardiac and respiratory diseases by extending pulse-oximeter uses: the dynamic pulse-oximetry

Respiratory and cardio-vascular chronic diseases are among the most common noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, accounting for a large portion of health-care costs in terms of mortality and disability. Their prevalence is expected to rise further in the coming years as the population ages. The current model of care for diagnosing and monitoring NCDs is out of date because it results in late medical interventions and/or an unfavourable cost-effectiveness balance based on reported symptoms and subsequent inpatient tests and treatments. Health projects and programs are being implemented in an attempt to move the time of an NCD's diagnosis, as well as its monitoring and follow up, out of hospital settings and as close to real life as possible, with the goal of benefiting both patients' quality of life and health system budgets. Following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, this implementation received additional impetus. Pulseoximeters (POs) are currently used in a variety of clinical settings, but they can also aid in the telemonitoring of certain patients. POs that can measure activities as well as pulse rate and oxygen saturation as proxies of cardio-vascular and respiratory function are now being introduced to the market. To obtain these data, the devices must be absolutely reliable, that is, accurate and precise, and capable of recording for a long enough period of time to allow for diagnosis. This paper is a review of current pulse-oximetry (POy) use, with the goal of investigating how its current use can be expanded to manage not only cardio-respiratory NCDs, but also acute emergencies with telemonitoring when hospitalization is not required but the patients' situation is debatable. Newly designed devices, both "consumer" and "professional," will be scrutinized, particularly those capable of continuously recording vital parameters on a 24-hour basis and coupling them with daily activities, a practice known as dynamic pulse-oximetry.

Does unconscious socioeconomic bias influence tele-evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea? An exploratory analysis

STUDY OBJECTIVES

We examined the association between a patient's income and a provider's ability to identify risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) when assessed in-person versus via telemedicine.

METHODS

We utilized data from a randomized interrater reliability study of 58 patients who were referred to a university sleep center. Participants volunteered their annual income bracket as part of data collection, although raters were blinded to these data. We assessed the inter-method reliability between the clinical impressions of a telemedicine rater and those of an in-person rater for pretest probability of OSA, stratified by income levels.

RESULTS

Inter-method reliabilities, assessed using weighted kappa, were 0.83, 0.24, and 0.66 for subjects with low (<$50,000/year), moderate ($50,000-$100,000/year) and high (>$100,000) incomes, respectively. The kappa statistics were significantly different (p = 0.005) between the low and moderate income groups.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant difference in the reliability values of telemedicine versus in-person assessments between the low and middle income brackets. This is despite the raters being unaware of the patients' income levels. This association might suggest possible unconscious bias in evaluating for OSA. With telemedicine in early development, it is important to create processes that will minimize bias that might result from patients' economic disparities.

Multiple-access versus telemedicine home-based sleep apnea testing for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosis: a cost-minimization study

PURPOSE

The aim of the present study was to compare two clinical pathways: the multiple-access outpatient pathway versus the telemedicine pathway.

METHODS

The multiple-access outpatient pathway and the telemedicine pathway were both performed with WatchPAT and implemented in a real-life healthcare scenario, adopting a cost-minimization approach. A cost-minimization analysis was undertaken to assess the economic impact of the two alternatives. The cost analyses were performed in euros for the year 2021 adopting the patient, the hospital, and the societal perspectives. Given the chosen perspectives, direct medical costs, direct nonmedical costs, and indirect costs were considered. In addition, a univariate sensitivity analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

From a hospital perspective, the telemedicine approach was estimated to cost €49 more than the multiple-access alternative. Considering the patient perspective, the telemedicine approach was estimated to cost €167 less than the multiple-access pathway. Considering the societal perspective, the telemedicine approach is estimated to cost €119 less than the multiple-access pathway.

CONCLUSION

The adoption of telemedicine home sleep apnea testing could improve the efficiency of the healthcare processes if considering the direct and indirect costs incurred by patients and not only by healthcare providers.

Affordable, portable and self-administrable electrical impedance tomography enables global and regional lung function assessment

Accessibility of diagnostic screening and treatment monitoring devices for respiratory diseases is critical in promoting healthcare and reducing sudden complications and mortality. Spirometry is the standard for diagnosing and monitoring several lung diseases. However, it lacks regional assessment capabilities necessary for detecting subtle regional changes in certain diseases. It also requires challenging breathing maneuvers difficult for elderlies, children, and diseased patients. Here, we actualized an affordable, portable, and self-administrable electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system for home-based lung function assessment and telemedicine. Through simultaneous EIT-spirometry trials on healthy subjects, we demonstrated that our device can predict spirometry indicators over a wide range and can provide regional mapping of these indicators. We further developed a close-to-effortless breathing paradigm and tested it by longitudinally monitoring a COVID-19 discharged subject and two healthy controls with results suggesting the paradigm can detect initial deterioration followed by recovery. Overall, the EIT system can be widely applicable for lung function screening and monitoring both at homes and clinics.

Telemedicine compared to standard face-to-face care for CPAP treatment: real-world Australian experience

STUDY OBJECTIVES

We tested a telemedicine model of care to initiate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) living in remote Western Australia.

METHODS

A prospective study comparing telemedicine for CPAP initiation in a remote population versus standard face-to-face CPAP initiation in a metropolitan population. The primary outcome was average nightly CPAP use in the final week of a CPAP trial.

RESULTS

A total of 186 participants were allocated to either telemedicine (n=56) or standard care (n=130). The average distance from the study centre for the telemedicine group was 979 km (±792km) compared to 19km (±14km) for the standard care group. The CPAP trial duration in the standard care group was less than the telemedicine group (37.6 vs 69.9 days, p<0.001). CPAP adherence in the telemedicine group was not inferior to standard care (Standard 4.7±0.2 hours, Telemedicine 4.7±0.3 hours, p=0.86). No differences were found between groups in residual apnea-hypopnea index, symptom response, sleep specific quality of life at the end of the trial and continued CPAP use (3 to 6 months). Participant satisfaction was high in both groups. Total health care costs of the telemedicine model were less than the standard model of care. An estimated A$4,538 per participant in travel costs was saved within the telemedicine group by reducing the need to travel to the sleep center for in-person management.

CONCLUSIONS

In remote dwelling adults starting CPAP for the treatment of OSA, outcomes using telemedicine were comparable to in-person management in a metropolitan setting.

In-person versus video hookup instructions: a comparison of home sleep apnea testing quality

STUDY OBJECTIVES

The high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the general population makes diagnosing OSA a high priority. Typically, patients receive in-person instructions to hook up the home sleep apnea test (HSAT) devices. Using recorded video instructions would save healthcare personnel time and improve access to OSA diagnostics for patients in remote areas. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of HSAT recordings when using in-person and video hookup instructions in a randomized study.

METHODS

A total of 100 patients aged 18 to 70 years with suspected OSA were randomized to receive either in-person or video hookup instructions for the Nox T3 device (Nox Medical, Reykjavik, Iceland). The overall quality of the resulting sleep studies was analyzed by determining the number of technically invalid studies. The recording quality of four sensors (pulse oximeter, nasal cannula, thorax and abdominal respiratory inductance plethysmography belts) was assessed by checking for signal artifacts.

RESULTS

No significant difference was found between the two groups in any quality index. Only 1 (2%) and 2 (3.9%) sleep studies were technically invalid in the in-person and video instructions group, respectively. The average ± standard deviation recording quality of the four sensors combined was 94.8% ± 13.6% for the in-person and 96.0% ± 11.0% for the video instructions group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found no difference in HSAT recording quality between the two groups. Video hookup instructions are therefore viable, and an important step towards a telemedicine-based way of diagnosing OSA.

A Novel Portable Real-Time Low-Cost Sleep Apnea Monitoring System based on the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Network

Background and objective

Continuous monitoring of breathing activity plays a vital role in the detection of respiratory-based diseases (SA, COPD, etc.). Sleep Apnea (SA) is characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep associated with arterial blood desaturation, sympathetic nervous system activation, and cardiovascular impairment. Untreated patients with SA have increased mortality rates compared to the general population. This study aims to design a remote monitoring system for sleep apnea to ensure patient safety and ease the workload of doctors in the Covid-19 era.

Methods

This study aims to design a remote monitoring system for sleep apnea to ensure patient safety and ease the workload of doctors. Our study focuses on a novel portable real-time low-cost sleep apnea monitoring system utilizing the GSM network (GSM Shield Sim900a). Proposed system is a remote monitoring and patient tracking system to detect the apnea event in real time, and to provide information of the sleep position, pulse, and respiratory and oxygen saturation to the medical specialists (SpO₂) by establishing a direct contact. As soon as an abnormal condition is detected in the light of these parameters, the condition is reported (instant or in the form of short reports after sleep) to the patient relatives, the doctor’s mobile telephone or to the emergency medical centers (EMCs) through a GSM network to handle the case depending on the patient’s emergency condition.

Results

A study group was formed of six patients for monitoring apnea events (three males and three females) between the ages of 20 and 60. The patients in the study group have sleep apnea (SA) in different grades. All the apnea events were detected, and all the patients were successfully alerted. Also, the patient parameters were successfully sent to all patient relatives. Patients who could not get out of apnea were called through the CALL feature, and they were informed about their ongoing apnea event and told that intervention was necessary. The proposed system is tested on six patients. The beginning moment of apnea was successfully detected and the SMS/CALL feature was successfully activated without delay. During the testing, it has been observed that while some of the patients start breathing after the first SMS, some others needed the second or the third SMS. According to the measurement result, the maximum breathless time is 46 s among the patients, and a SMS is sent every 15 s. In addition, in cases where the patient was breathless for a long time, the CALL feature was actively sought from the relatives of the patient and enabled him to intervene. The proposed monitoring system could be used in both clinical and home settings.

Conclusions

The monitoring of a patient in real time allows to intervene in any unexpected circumstances about the patient. The proposed work uses an acceleration sensor as a reliable method of the sleep apnea for monitoring and prevention. The developed device is more economical, comfortable, and convenient than existing systems not only for the patients but also for the doctors. The patients can easily use this device in their home environment, so which could yield a more comfortable, easy to use, cost-effective, and long-term breathing monitoring system for healthcare applications.

Graphical abstract

Telemedicine in sleep-related breathing disorders and treatment with positive airway pressure devices. Learnings from SARS-CoV-2 pandemic times

The healthcare system currently faces new challenges, which are to be addressed by finding efficient alternatives. Such factors as the growth of world population, the increase in longevity, and the fact that some diseases which used to be deadly diseases have turned into chronic pathologies, cause the number of people in need for continuous medical care to rise. This results in a healthcare system crisis, which searches for solutions as telemedicine to address the needs of patients and control excessive medical spending. Telemedicine means remote medical assistance delivered by means of technological resources, which streamline the provision of medical care, thus increasing patient's access to healthcare and saving time and costs. As regards respiratory diseases, telemedicine is a tool that may provide for proper prevention, diagnosis, therapeutic education, monitoring of observance, and therapeutic efficacy, as well as for the early detection of exacerbations. Patients suffering from sleep-related respiratory disorders in need for positive airway pressure devices may be benefited by telemedicine to enhance positive pressure adherence and follow-up to treat their pathologies, thus providing for the delivery of remote care and follow-up, reducing costs, and increasing the chances of receiving attention from specialists in patients who live a long distance from such medical facilities. However, it is a challenging task to find a balance in the doctor-patient virtual relationship.

Telemedicine in Sleep-Disordered Breathing: Expanding the Horizons

Interest in telemedicine has increased exponentially. There is a growing body of published evidence on the use of telemedicine for patients using continuous positive airway pressure. Telemedicine-ready devices can support the transmission on use time, apnea-hypopnea index, and leakage. This approach enables early activation of troubleshooting. Automated, personalized feedback for patients and patient access to their own data provide unprecedented opportunities for integrating comanagement approaches, multiactor interactions, and patient empowerment. Telemedicine is likely cost effective, but requires better evidence. Notwithstanding barriers for implementation that remain, telemedicine has to be embraced, leaving the physician and patient to accept it or not.

Interrater reliability between in-person and telemedicine evaluations in obstructive sleep apnea

STUDY OBJECTIVES

We examined how telemedicine evaluation compares to face-to-face evaluation in identifying risk for sleep-disordered breathing.

METHODS

This was a randomized interrater reliability study of 90 participants referred to a university sleep center. Participants were evaluated by a clinician investigator seeing the patient in-person, then randomized to a second clinician investigator who performed a patient evaluation online via audio-video conferencing. The primary comparator was pretest probability for obstructive sleep apnea.

RESULTS

The primary outcome comparing pretest probability for obstructive sleep apnea showed a weighted kappa value of 0.414 (standard error 0.090, P = .002), suggesting moderate agreement between the 2 raters. Kappa values of our secondary outcomes varied widely, but the kappa values were lower for physical exam findings compared to historical elements.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluation for pretest probability for obstructive sleep apnea via telemedicine has a moderate interrater correlation with in-person assessment. A low degree of interrater reliability for physical exam elements suggests telemedicine assessment for obstructive sleep apnea could be hampered by a suboptimal physical exam. Employing standardized scales for obstructive sleep apnea when performing telemedicine evaluations may help with risk-stratification and ultimately lead to more tailored clinical management.

Video Consultation as an Adequate Alternative to Face-to-Face Consultation in Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Use for Newly Diagnosed Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

The effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is dependent on the degree of use, so adherence is essential. Cognitive components (eg, self-efficacy) and support during treatment have been found to be important in CPAP use. Video consultation may be useful to support patients during treatment. So far, video consultation has rarely been evaluated in thorough controlled research, with only a limited number of outcomes assessed.

Objective

The aim of the study was to evaluate the superiority of video consultation over face-to-face consultation for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on CPAP use (minutes per night), adherence, self-efficacy, risk outcomes, outcome expectancies, expectations and experiences with video consultation, and satisfaction of patients and nurses.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with an intervention (video consultation) and a usual care group (face-to-face consultation). Patients with confirmed OSA (apnea-hypopnea index >15), requiring CPAP treatment, no history of CPAP treatment, having access to a tablet or smartphone, and proficient in the Dutch language were recruited from a large teaching hospital. CPAP use was monitored remotely, with short-term (weeks 1 to 4) and long-term (week 4, week 12, and week 24) assessments. Questionnaires were completed at baseline and after 4 weeks on self-efficacy, risk perception, outcome expectancies (Self-Efficacy Measure for Sleep Apnea), expectations and experiences with video consultation (covering constructs of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology), and satisfaction. Nurse satisfaction was evaluated using questionnaires.

Results

A total of 140 patients were randomized (1:1 allocation). The use of video consultation for OSA patients does not lead to superior results on CPAP use and adherence compared with face-to-face consultation. A significant difference in change over time was found between groups for short-term (P-interaction=.008) but not long-term (P-interaction=.68) CPAP use. CPAP use decreased in the long term (P=.008), but no significant difference was found between groups (P=.09). Change over time for adherence was not significantly different in the short term (P-interaction=.17) or long term (P-interaction=.51). A relation was found between CPAP use and self-efficacy (P=.001), regardless of the intervention arm (P=.25). No significant difference between groups was found for outcome expectancies (P=.64), self-efficacy (P=.41), and risk perception (P=.30). The experiences were positive, and 95% (60/63) intended to keep using video consultation. Patients in both groups rated the consultations on average with an 8.4. Overall, nurses (n=3) were satisfied with the video consultation system.

Conclusions

Support of OSA patients with video consultation does not lead to superior results on CPAP use and adherence compared with face-to-face consultation. The findings of this research suggest that self-efficacy is an important factor in improving CPAP use and that video consultation may be a feasible way to support patients starting CPAP. Future research should focus on blended care approaches in which self-efficacy receives greater emphasis.

Trial Registration

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04563169; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT04563169

Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery positioning on the use of telemedine in sleep-disordered breathing and mechanical ventilation

The rapid introduction of new information and communication technologies into medical practice has prompted Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic SurgeryR to publish a position paper on sleep-disordered breathing, especially in relation to positive pressure treatment. It should be pointed out that the scientific literature is to some extent controversial due to a paucity of large randomized multicenter studies with long-term follow-up. Moreover, the telematics devices and systems on the market vary widely. As a result, the recommendations are based primarily on a consensus of expert professionals. Another very important aspect addressed extensively in this document is the obvious lack of regulations on legal matters and the operations of commercial companies. The most important recommendations included in this position paper are that telemedicine is primarily advocated in subjects with travel problems or who live far from the hospital, in patients with poor CPAP compliance, and in most cases treated with non-invasive mechanical ventilation. A key element is patient individualization. It is imperative that the relevant technical, legal and ethical requirements (medical device regulations, data protection, and informed consent) are met. Finally, expert professionals from our society must contribute to and become involved in spearheading this technological change.

New organisation for follow-up and assessment of treatment efficacy in sleep apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a highly prevalent disease, and there is an increased demand for OSA diagnosis and treatment. However, resources are limited compared with the growing needs for OSA diagnosis and management, and alternative strategies need to be developed to optimise the OSA clinical pathway. In this review, we propose a management strategy for OSA, and in general for sleep-disordered breathing, to be implemented from diagnosis to follow-up. For this purpose, the best current options seem to be: 1) networking at different levels of care, from primary physicians to specialised sleep laboratories; and 2) use of telemedicine. Telemedicine can contribute to the improved cost-effectiveness of OSA management during both the diagnostic and therapeutic phases. However, although the technology is already in place and different commercial platforms are in use, it is still unclear how to use telemedicine effectively in the sleep field. Application of telemedicine for titration of positive airway pressure treatment, follow-up to improve compliance to treatment through early identification and solution of problems, and teleconsultation all appear to be promising areas for improved OSA management.

Telemedicine could improve the management of sleep apnoea and other breathing disorders during sleep.http://bit.ly/2XPoPW1

Telemedicine in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnoea

Telemedicine (TM) is a current tool in the landscape of medicine. It helps to address public health challenges such as increases in chronic disease in an ageing society and the associated burden in healthcare costs. Sleep TM refers to patient data exchange with the purpose of enhancing disease management. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) syndrome is a chronic disorder associated with a significant morbidity, mainly cardiometabolic, and mortality. Obtaining adequate compliance to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the greatest challenge related to OSA treatment, and the adoption of TM to support OSA management makes sense. In addition, the prevalence of OSA is growing and OSA is associated with increased healthcare costs that could be streamlined by the application of TM. In OSA, multiple modalities of TM are utilised, such as telediagnostics, teleconsultation, teletherapy and telemonitoring of patients being treated with CPAP. In the present article, I aim to provide an overview of current practice and the recent developments in TM for OSA management. Concerns related to TM use will also be addressed.

Distance to Specialist Medical Care and Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Rural Saskatchewan

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-disordered breathing condition. Patients with OSA symptoms are often not diagnosed clinically, which is a concern, given the health and safety risks associated with unmanaged OSA. The availability of fewer practicing medical specialists combined with longer travel distances to access health care services results in barriers to diagnosis and treatment in rural communities. This study aimed to (1) determine whether the proportion of adults reporting OSA symptoms in the absence of a sleep apnea diagnosis in rural populations varied by travel distance to specialist medical care and (2) assess whether any distance-related patterns were attributable to differences in the frequency of diagnosis among adults who likely required this specialist medical care. We used a cross-sectional epidemiologic study design, augmented by analysis of follow-up survey data. Our study base included adults who completed a 2010 baseline questionnaire for the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study. Follow-up occurred until 2015. 6525 adults from 3731 households constituted our sample. Statistical models used log-binomial regression. Rural adults who reported the largest travel distances (≥250 km) to specialist medical care were 1.17 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.29) times more likely to report OSA symptoms in the absence of a sleep apnea diagnosis than those who reported the smallest (<100 km; referent) distances. However, the proportion of sleep apnea diagnoses was low and unaffected by reported travel distance among adults who likely required this specialist medical care. Our findings suggest factors other than travel distance may be contributing to the low sleep apnea diagnostic rate. This remains important as undiagnosed and untreated OSA has serious implications on the health of people and populations, but effective treatments are available. Health care access barriers to the diagnosis and treatment of OSA require evaluation to inform health care planning and delivery.

Remote consulting with telemonitoring of continuous positive airway pressure usage data for the routine review of people with obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Telehealth has the potential to offer more convenient care and reduce travel. We aimed to systematically review studies that assessed the effectiveness of teleconsultation plus telemonitoring in the review of people with obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome receiving continuous positive airway pressure therapy versus face-to-face care.

METHODS

Following Cochrane methodology, we searched 10 electronic databases (November 2015), trial registries, and reference lists of included studies, for trials testing interventions that combined remote consultations with telemonitoring of usage/continuous positive airway pressure data. Outcomes measures were: proportion reviewed, continuous positive airway pressure adherence, symptom control, and satisfaction/acceptability and cost effectiveness.

RESULTS

From 362 potentially relevant papers, we identified five randomised controlled trials ( n = 269 patients): four from North America and one from Spain. Risk of bias was moderate in one, and moderate/high in four trials. Two trials reported number/duration of reviews with inconsistent results. The teleconsultation/telemonitoring improved continuous positive airway pressure adherence in two trials ( n = 19; n = 75); two ( n = 114 and n = 75) reported no between-groups differences. Two studies, both at moderate/high risk of bias, showed no between-group difference in the Epworth Sleepiness Score. Satisfaction was generally reported positively in all five trials; one trial reported that the teleconsultation/telemonitoring patients were 'more likely to continue' with continuous positive airway pressure therapy treatment. One study reported teleconsultation/telemonitoring as cost effective.

DISCUSSION

The evidence for teleconsultation/telemonitoring in continuous positive airway pressure users is limited; however, no safety concerns have been raised. Adequately powered, well-designed trials are needed to establish whether real-time telemonitoring and remote teleconsultation is a clinically and cost effective option for people using continuous positive airway pressure therapy.

Mobile Phone Interventions for Sleep Disorders and Sleep Quality: Systematic Review

Background

Although mobile health technologies have been developed for interventions to improve sleep disorders and sleep quality, evidence of their effectiveness remains limited.

Objective

A systematic literature review was performed to determine the effectiveness of mobile technology interventions for improving sleep disorders and sleep quality.

Methods

Four electronic databases (EBSCOhost, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched for articles on mobile technology and sleep interventions published between January 1983 and December 2016. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they met the following criteria: (1) written in English, (2) adequate details on study design, (3) focus on sleep intervention research, (4) sleep index measurement outcome provided, and (5) publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Results

An initial sample of 2679 English-language papers were retrieved from five electronic databases. After screening and review, 16 eligible studies were evaluated to examine the impact of mobile phone interventions on sleep disorders and sleep quality. These included one case study, three pre-post studies, and 12 randomized controlled trials. The studies were categorized as (1) conventional mobile phone support and (2) utilizing mobile phone apps. Based on the results of sleep outcome measurements, 88% (14/16) studies showed that mobile phone interventions have the capability to attenuate sleep disorders and to enhance sleep quality, regardless of intervention type. In addition, mobile phone intervention methods (either alternatively or as an auxiliary) provide better sleep solutions in comparison with other recognized treatments (eg, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia).

Conclusions

We found evidence to support the use of mobile phone interventions to address sleep disorders and to improve sleep quality. Our findings suggest that mobile phone technologies can be effective for future sleep intervention research.

Technical Developments and Clinical Use of Telemedicine in Sleep Medicine

The use of assistive technology and telemedicine is likely to continue to shape our medical practice in the future, notably in the field of sleep medicine, especially within developed countries. Currently, the number of people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is increasing. Telemedicine (TM) can be used in a variety of ways in sleep medicine: telediagnostics, teleconsultation, teletherapy and telemonitoring of patients being treated with positive pressure devices. In this review, we aim to summarize the recent scientific progresses of these techniques and their potential clinical applications and give consideration to the remaining problems related to TM application.

Tele-monitoring of ventilator-dependent patients: a European Respiratory Society Statement

The estimated prevalence of ventilator-dependent individuals in Europe is 6.6 per 100 000 people. The increasing number and costs of these complex patients make present health organisations largely insufficient to face their needs. As a consequence, their burden lays mostly over families. The need to reduce healthcare costs and to increase safety has prompted the development of tele-monitoring for home ventilatory assistance.

A European Respiratory Society Task Force produced a literature research based statement on commonly accepted clinical criteria for indications, follow-up, equipment, facilities, legal and economic issues of tele-monitoring of these patients.

Many remote health monitoring systems are available, ensuring safety, feasibility, effectiveness, sustainability and flexibility to face different patients' needs. The legal problems associated with tele-monitoring are still controversial. National and European Union (EU) governments should develop guidelines and ethical, legal, regulatory, technical, administrative standards for remote medicine. The economic advantages, if any, of this new approach must be compared to a “gold standard” of home care that is very variable among different European countries and within each European country.

Much more research is needed before considering tele-monitoring a real improvement in the management of these patients.

"Diagnosis of sleep apnea in network" respiratory polygraphy as a decentralization strategy

INTRODUCTION

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is diagnosed through polysomnography (PSG) or respiratory polygraphy (RP). Self-administered home-based RP using devices with data transmission could facilitate diagnosis in distant populations. The purpose of this work was to describe a telemedicine initiative using RP in four satellite outpatient care clinics (OCC) of Buenos Aires Hospital Británico Central (HBC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

OCC technicians were trained both in the use of RP. Raw signals were sent to HBC via intranet software for scoring and final report.

RESULTS

During a 24-month 499 RP were performed in 499 patients: 303 men (60.7%) with the following characteristics (mean and standard deviation): valid time for manual analysis: 392.8 min (±100.1), AHI: 17.05 (±16.49 and percentile 25-75 [Pt]: 5-23) ev/hour, ODI (criterion 3%): 18.05 (±16.48 and Pt 25-75: 6-25) ev/hour, and time below 90% (T<90): 17.9% (±23.4 and Pt 25-75: 1-23). The distribution of diagnoses (absolute value and percentage) was: normal (66/13%), snoring (70/14%), mild (167/33.5%), moderate (110/22%), and severe (86/17.2%). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was indicated for 191 patients (38.6%). Twenty recordings (4%) were considered invalid and the RP had to be repeated. PSG at HBC was indicated in 60 (12.1%) cases (mild OSA or normal AHI with high ESS or cardiovascular disease).

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians were able to diagnosis OSA by doing portable respiratory polygraphy at distance. The remote diagnosis strategy presented short delays, safe data transmission, and low rate of missing data.

Sleep Telemedicine: An Emerging Field's Latest Frontier

There is a widening gap between sleep provider access and patient demand for it. An American Academy of Sleep Medicine position paper recently recognized sleep telemedicine as one tool to narrow that divide. We define the term sleep telemedicine as the use of sleep-related medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient's health. Applicable data transfer methods include telephone, video, smartphone applications, and the Internet. Their usefulness for the treatment of insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing is highlighted. Sleep telemedicine programs range in complexity from telephone-based patient feedback systems to comprehensive treatment pathways incorporating real-time video, telephone, and the Internet. While large, randomized trials are lacking, smaller studies comparing telemedicine with in-person care suggest noninferiority in terms of patient satisfaction, adherence to treatment, and symptomatic improvement. Sleep telemedicine is feasible from a technological and quality-driven perspective, but cost uncertainties, complex reimbursement structures, and variable licensing rules remain significant challenges to its feasibility on a larger scale. As legislative reform pends, larger randomized trials are needed to elucidate impact on patient outcomes, cost, and health-care system accessibility.

Diagnostic approaches to respiratory sleep disorders

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) comprises a number of breathing disturbances occurring during sleep including snoring, the obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), central sleep apnoea (CSA) and hypoventilation syndromes. This review focuses on sleep disordered breathing and diagnostic approaches in adults, in particular clinical assessment and overnight assessment during sleep. Although diagnostic approaches to respiratory sleep disorders are reasonably straightforward, they do require a degree of clinical acumen when it comes to assessing severity and management options. Diagnosing respiratory sleep disorders on clinical features alone has limitations. Monitoring and measuring respiration during sleep has undergone many advances in the last 40 years in respect of quality and validity, largely regarding OSAHS. Despite the improvement in our diagnostic standards and recognition of sleep disordered breathing, many limitations still need to be overcome. Apart from assessing the individual patient, population screening for sleep disorders continues to preoccupy health professionals and policy makers in many countries. Research in the field is pushing current boundaries in terms of simplifying diagnosis and enhancing screening for sleep disordered breathing in large populations. At present, a number of these newer approaches require further validation.

Effect of telemetric monitoring in the first 30 days of continuous positive airway pressure adaptation for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome – a controlled pilot study

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is characterised by repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) applied via a mask is the standard treatment for OSAS. CPAP adherence is crucial in therapy to prevent the deleterious consequences of OSAS. We hypothesised that a combination of supervision by telemetry together with targeted telephone support in the first month of CPAP would increase CPAP adherence and treatment success. A total of 113 OSAS patients followed by telemetry-triggered interventions used the device for 5.3 h/night on 28/30 nights, significantly more than the 110 OSAS patients in the control group with 4.6 h/night and 27/30 nights. Telemetry-triggered interventions have a significant impact on adherence rate in early CPAP treatment. These results can be reached with an acceptable additional effort.

The role of pulmonology in the National Health System Chronicity Strategy

Longer life expectancy and the progressive aging of the population is changing the epidemiological pattern of healthcare, with a reduction in the incidence of acute diseases and a marked increase in chronic diseases. This change brings important social, healthcare and economic consequences that call for a reorganization of patient care. In this respect, the Spanish National Health System has developed a Chronicity strategy that proposes a substantial change in focus from traditional rescue medicine to patient- and environment-centered care, with a planned, proactive, participative and multidisciplinary approach. Some of the more common chronic diseases are respiratory. In COPD, this integrated approach has been effective in reducing exacerbations, improving quality of life, and even reducing costs. However, the wide variety of management strategies, not only in COPD but also in asthma and other respiratory diseases, makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Pulmonologists can and must participate in the new chronicity models and contribute their knowledge, experience, innovation, research, and special expertise to the development of these new paradigms.

Complementary home mechanical ventilation techniques. SEPAR Year 2014

This is a review of the different complementary techniques that are useful for optimizing home mechanical ventilation (HMV). Airway clearance is very important in patients with HMV and many patients, particularly those with reduced peak cough flow, require airway clearance (manual or assisted) or assisted cough techniques (manual or mechanical) and suctioning procedures, in addition to ventilation. In the case of invasive HMV, good tracheostomy cannula management is essential for success. HMV patients may have sleep disturbances that must be taken into account. Sleep studies including complete polysomnography or respiratory polygraphy are helpful for identifying patient-ventilator asynchrony. Other techniques, such as bronchoscopy or nutritional support, may be required in patients on HMV, particularly if percutaneous gastrostomy is required. Information on treatment efficacy can be obtained from HMV monitoring, using methods such as pulse oximetry, capnography or the internal programs of the ventilators themselves. Finally, the importance of the patient's subjective perception is reviewed, as this may potentially affect the success of the HMV.

Apps in sleep medicine

PURPOSE

Users of mobile devices such as iPhones or iPads are offered a wide range of applications (apps) regarding sleep and sleep medicine. This article will give an overview about the apps that are available. Moreover, it will present how they work and determine if they can be used in therapy.

METHODS

The apps' competence to count snoring noises had to be evaluated. This was done with a three-piece test set-up to analyze the apps' ability to distinguish between snoring sounds and disturbing noises such as cars driving past the window, conversations in the bedroom, or even just the rustling of sheets and blankets.

RESULTS

The tested apps monitor and record snoring noises well as long as they are used in a soundproof environment. In a real-life environment with various disturbing noises, the apps show difficulties in telling snoring sounds and other noises apart.

CONCLUSIONS

The tested apps are not accurate enough to replace the common diagnostic standard in therapy. However, they can be a helpful addition. Especially, singles could use them who do not know if their snoring has improved with an OA and do not have anybody to ask.

The concomitant relationship shared by sleep disturbances and type 2 diabetes: developing telemedicine as a viable treatment option

Individually, sleep disturbances and type 2 diabetes pose pervasive challenges to health. In addition, the negative symptomology associated with each condition is exacerbated further when presenting concomitantly. This relationship formulates a destructive loop wherein those with diabetes experience decreased sleep quality, which, in turn, worsens a wide range of health threats experienced by those with diabetes, including obesity and glucose intolerance. Because major lifestyle changes and daily care are needed to effectively manage both diabetes and sleep disturbances, an efficient and timely modality of treatment is essential. Advanced technology incorporating telemedicine and telehealth has the potential to enhance treatment by delivering accepted standard of care, medical monitoring, and education quickly and seamlessly--even in rural locations. This type of intervention has the added potential benefit of fostering patient empowerment.