Predictors of obstructive sleep apnea misclassification when using total bed time versus total sleep time

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent condition worldwide. Untreated, it is associated with multiple medical complications as well as a reduced quality of life. Home sleep apnea tests are increasingly used for its diagnosis and evaluation of severity, but using total bed time rather than total sleep time may underestimate OSA severity. We aim to uncover the extent and predictors of OSA misclassification when using total bed time. A retrospective observational study was conducted using data from the sleep laboratory of the National University Hospital, Singapore, a tertiary hospital with 1200 beds. Misclassification of OSA was defined as any OSA severity that was less severe using total bed time versus total sleep time. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of OSA misclassification. A total of 1621 patients were studied (mean age 45.6 +/- 15.9 years; 73.4% male). 300 (18.5%) patients were misclassified. Risk factors for OSA misclassification included age (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03, P=0.001) and body-mass index (BMI) (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, P=0.015). Risk for misclassification was significant in patients aged >= 57 years old, with BMI<32.3 kg/m(2). Using total bed time rather than total sleep time to quantify OSA severity was associated with a significant risk of misclassification, particularly in patients aged57 years old, with BMI<32.3 kg/m(2).

Automated summary

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent condition worldwide and if left untreated, it can lead to multiple medical complications and a decreased quality of life. Using total bed time instead of total sleep time to quantify OSA severity may underestimate the severity of the disease. A study found that risk factors for underestimating OSA severity include age and body-mass index.