Screening and diagnosis

ResMed is committed to sharing its in-depth knowledge of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) screening.

If your patient displays symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing, we can help you accurately refer your patient for an OSA diagnosis.

Diagnosis: key steps


Recognise and identify common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).


Ask your patient to undergo a sleep apnoea screening test by completing a symptom questionnaire or by using a home sleep screening device.


Based on the results of the screening, recommend a sleep study for your patient to monitor and determine the severity of his or her OSA.

All about sleep studies

Sleep studies should be performed in the patient’s home or at a sleep clinic, in line with local rules and regulations.




Sleep study in a clinic


Sensors are placed:

    • On the chest to monitor heart activity;
    • On the head to measure electrical signals from the brain;
    • On the legs to assess muscle activity.

Patients will also be fitted with:

    • A nasal cannula to monitor breathing;
    • An oximeter on their finger to record oxygen levels;
    • Bands around their chest and stomach to measure breathing effort.

With your patient’s permission, staff may also ask to film the sleep study to gain more insights into the patient’s sleeping behaviour.



Sleep study at home

There are two types of set-up for a home sleep study:

  1. A home set-up is similar to that in a clinic, hospital or sleep lab – with the added comfort and convenience of being in the patient’s own home. Usually, for a home sleep study, the patient would be fitted with fewer sensors than for an in-patient study, as the focus is on recording data about breathing. Prior to the sleep study night, a sleep clinician will have shown your patient how to apply the sensors and monitors, and how to use the recording device during the night. The night of the sleep test, the patient should simply follow a normal evening routine and get ready for sleep, attach everything as shown, and start the recording. In the morning, the patient removes everything as shown and returns the recording device to the clinic, hospital or sleep lab.
  2. A sleep screening study can be performed using ResMed’s  ApneaLink Air, a compact, lightweight and easy-to-use home sleep testing device. The night of the sleep test, the patient places the sensors on designated parts of the body to start the recording. Our ApneaLink Air home sleep testing device detects apnoeas, hypopnoeas, flow limitation, snoring and blood oxygen saturation. It also calculates the probability of Cheyne-Stokes respiration breathing patterns within the recording, enabling accurate differentiation between obstructive and central apnoeas. Your patient’s results can then be further analysed the next day at a clinic, hospital or sleep lab. The ApneaLink Air report provides detailed signal analysis and streamlines the care process for healthcare professionals. The results from ResMed home sleep testing devices are compatible with AirView, a comprehensive diagnostic software solution for sleep facilities.


What do sleep studies measure?

Among other things, the sleep study will indicate the severity of your patient’s condition, which is classified using the apnoea/hypopnea index (AHI).

The AHI score indicates the number of apnoeas and hypopneas your patient has per hour (<5 to 30+).1

Severity AHI (per hour)
Normal <5
Mild 5 to <15
Moderate 15 to <30
Severe 30+

In addition to the patient’s AHI, the diagnosis will take into account the patient’s oxygen desaturation and in case of OSA, excessive daytime sleepiness.


