Objective To test the reliability of the Holter Oximeter for home testing of obstructive sleep apnea. Previous reports have shown a 96% correlation with simultaneous polysomnography and Holter Oximetry in the sleep laboratory. This study was designed to measure reliability of data obtained at home, as well as to obtain information from patients regarding comfort of the device. Methods A prospective study of 120 consecutive patients (ages 5 to 85) presenting to an otolaryngology practice during a 4-month period with complaints of snoring or sleep apnea symptoms. Device: The Holter Oximeter produces an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) based on an automated processing method of a continuous electrocardiogram and pulse oximeter. The reliability of the test was determined by the number of tests completed without interruption due to patient discomfort, electrode or device failure. Results There was 97% data recovery from the home testing device. Data failure was due to faulty memory cards in the device or surface electrode failure. All patients tolerated wearing the device at home, and there were no voluntary interruptions of the tests by patients. On a discomfort scale of 0 to 10 (0: no discomfort and 10: maximal discomfort), the average discomfort score was 2. Conclusions Holter Oximetry represents a new, easy to use, and reliable device for the home diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. It can also be used to measure outcomes for the surgical and non-surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in adults and children.
Testing objective measures of motor impairment in early Parkinson's disease: Feasibility study of an at-home testing device