Summary
(OSA) is a sleep problem which causes the airway to become slightly or completely blocked during sleep. The brain, detecting low blood oxygen levels, sends signals that cause the person to wake up, restoring normal breathing. OSA increases the risk of dying from heart disease and stroke. It often causes daytime sleepiness and increases risk of road traffic accidents. Awareness levels of OSA in the UK are low. It is estimated that up to 85% of people with OSA remain undiagnosed and untreated. Currently, a patient with symptoms that indicate OSA needs a GP referral to specialist hospital services to attend hospital, collect and be instructed on how to use the overnight sleep study equipment, return it next day and wait for data analysis and hospital follow-up appointment. Pre-pandemic, waiting time for referral to a sleep clinic in Coventry was over 4 months.
The AcuPebble SA100, the first medical device to obtain official product approval for the automated diagnosis of OSA, can be posted to a patient; with results immediately calculated and sent to the hospital Sleep Specialist.
The British Lung Foundation estimated the annual savings to the NHS in the UK would be £28 million, if all people with moderate to severe OSA were diagnosed and treated.
Our research aims to find out if theAcuPebblecan be used in a General Practice for OSA diagnosis. We will invite patients who may be at higher risk of OSA (overweight, have hypertension, diabetes or both) to take part in the study and split into two groups. One group (intervention) will complete a home overnight sleep study using the AcuPebble. The other (control) group will continue as normal (referred to hospital via the traditional pathway if presenting a sleep study need). Individuals diagnosed with OSA in either group will be referred for treatment through existing care pathways.
We will compare the number of new diagnoses of OSA in the two groups, looking at how well this new approach works compared to the current hospital-based referral route, and whether it is value for money for the NHS. If this strategy is successful in detecting OSA, it can be rolled out in primary care to improve the detection and treatment of OSA. Better detection would reduce risks, improve health and wellbeing; with fewer longer term health conditions.
Acurable representatives (AcuPebble's supplier), the Sleep Apnoea Trust and Hope2Sleep support the project. The latter’s founder, a patient with OSA, has been involved in the development of the project. They will join the project management group. Findings would be shared with patients and the public in research papers, conference presentations, public engagement events, social media and through relevant charities.