Frequently Asked Questions This is a diagnostic procedure to identify sleep disorder breathing in a patient. There are approximately 80+ types of sleep disorders, however most common of them is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). A Dr can suggest the Sleep Study/Sleep Test to find out the severity and impact of Sleep Disorder on body during sleep.
There are 4 types of tests available -
1. Level1/Type1 Polysomnography: This is considered to be a gold standard test. This is performed mainly in hospitals under the presence of a Sleep technician. The technician does the live monitoring of patient for the whole night and creates a report in the morning.
Pros- It's Gold standard and provides a detailed analysis of sleep pattern for every disorder
Cons- Device is complicated to wear, Its Costly , Need to sleep at the lab/hospital, Not available everywhere, technician competency can not be appropriate everywhere to perfrom the test
2. Level2/Type2 Polysonography: This is step down test and can be performed at home also . A technician can visit patient's home and hook up the device. Machine will record the sleep patterns. Technician will stay with pateint whole night & report will be generated through software.
Pros- Can be done at home, gives a detailed analysis too but not as good as Type1/Level1 test
Cons- Privacy disturbs as technician stay at home during night,device is complicated to wear, accuracy can't be measured as different technician may apply the device differently
3. Level3/Type3 Home Sleep Test : This is a basic test which can diagnose OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) , CSA ( Central Sleep Apnea ), Mixed Apneas along with Oxygen desaturation during sleep for whole night. This is a commonly used test nowadays.
Pros- Device is easy to attach, can be done at home, no technician required to stay at home, economic as compared to level1/ level2,
Cons- Useful for diagnosis of OSA majorly, cant be used for diagnosis of other disorders, cant give detailed report as good as level1/level2
4. Level4/Type4 Home Sleep Test: This is mostly used for screening of OSA, not commonly used by Drs
Pros - Devices are easy to attach, economic, can be done at home
Cons - Cant give detailed reports, most of the Drs doesn't consider the report
Generally it depends upon various factors i.e. Location, Hospital, Facilities, Devices used etc.
Approximate cost of Sleep test ranges from INR 2000 - 25000 in India.
Level 1: Approximate INR 12000- 25000
Level 2: Approximate INR 7000- 10000
Level 3: Approximate INR 2500- 3500
Level 4: Approximate INR 1800- 2500
Different level of test show different parameters however most common parameters are
-Apnea: This means 90% or more airway obstruction for minimum 10 seconds or more
-Hypoapnea: This means 30% airway obstruction with 3% drop in Oxygen Saturation for 10 seconds or more
-AHI ( Apnea Hypopnea Index) : This is an important reading which your Dr will check. This is an per hour average of Apnea & Hypoapnea during total sleep. This is calculated as AHI = (No. of Apnea+ No. of Hypoapnea) / Total hours of Sleep
- Obstructive Apnea : This means blockage of airway due to obstruction (primarily in throat) for 10 seconds or more
- Central Apnea: This means loss of central drive to break in or out for 10 seconds or more
-Mixed Apnea : This means a combination of Obstructive and Central apnea
- Oxygen desaturation: This means drop in oxygen levels due to various types of apneas during sleep
In detailed studies there are some other parameters can also be analysed i.e. Apneas in different stages of sleep like NREM, REM, ECG, Ocular Moments or restless leg movements etc.
AHI values shows severity of desease as per the guidelines,
AHI range is -
Normal : 0-5
Mild: 6-15
Moderate: 16-30
Severe : > 30
For Sleep Apnea a Doctor can suggest a treatment if AHI is more than 15 (As per the guidelines)
A doctor may suggest using a CPAP/Auto CPAP or BiPAP/Bilevel in some cases. An ENT surgeon may suggest for surgery as well if there are anatomical defaults. Please follow Dr's instructions for treatment options.
Sleep Study Test is a diagnostic procedure which is being used to diagnose Sleep Disorders in a patient. A Dr. may choose type of Sleep Study Test based on his requirement of details.
During Sleep Study Test, patient is hooked up with a device and that device records the sleep patterns. Based on the data and events captured in the device, Sleep Study Test reports are generated.
Diagnosis of Sleep Disorder is very crucial as disturbed sleep might lead to lot many health issues like depression, anxiety, cardiac issues, metabolic issues, brain strokes and road accidents due to sleepiness while driving etc.
Its always better and convenient to go for a Sleep Study at Home because you have a comfort of sleeping on your own bed during the test and it minimises the factors which can impact your sleep.
While going for a test in lab, patient might feel a challenge to sleep because of change in place and no homely environment.
However Sleep lab studies are more detailed and considered to be gold standard but Sleep study at home also address the major requirements of Sleep Test.
There can be majorly two types of machines which can be used for Sleep Study Test at Home:
Level 3 or Basic Sleep Study Test: This is a very good option for patients who have symptoms mainly for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) . A small device will be hooked up on patient and then he will go for sleep, device will record the Snoring, Apneas, Oxygen Saturations etc and report can be generated next day. In this test ,technician stay is not required with patient for full night.
Level 2 Sleep Study Test or Polysomnography: This is a step down test to a Polysomnography at hospital and this helps to collect a comprehensive data about Sleep like Apneas in different stages of sleep , Heart activity during sleep and Sleep Disorders other than OSA. A technician stay is required along with the patient to manage the device during the test.
Polysomnogram is a comprehensive sleep study test to track the body’s activities during Sleep. A technician hooks up the device and connects some electrodes on different body parts like head, chest , chin, legs etc and then patient will have sleep to begin the sleep test. The device records the data of activities of different body parts during sleep and report can be generated next day. There are mainly two types of Polysomnogram tests available in India :
1. Level 1 Polysomnography/Polysomnogram – Mainly Done in the hospital and considered to be gold standard . This device contains maximum channels than any other Sleep Study devices.
2. Level 2 Polysomnography/Polysomnogram – Can be done at home and it’s a step down test to Level 1 . This device has some channels less than the Level 1 device . This test is mostly preferred for sleep study test as it can be done at the comfort of home for any patient.
There are mainly four types of sleep tests are available to diagnose Sleep Apnea in India-
1. Level 1 Polysomnography: Mainly done in the hospital and considered to be a gold standard.
2. Level 2 Polysomnography: It’s a step down test and can be done at home also.
3. Level 3 or Apnealink Air Test: This is a basic test and can be done easily at home. Used mainly for OSA( Obstructive Sleep Apnea ) diagnosis.
4. Level 4 / PAT devices: These are used mainly for screening
Other than Polysomnography an ENT Dr may suggest for DISE ( Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy ) also where Dr induces sleep with the help of drug and check the obstructions at different level of upper respiratory track.
1. Level 3 or Apnealink Air Test in India: This contains an elastic belt which has a small device attached to it. One nasal cannula and one oximetry probe gets connected with the device. Technician hooks up the device and ask patient to sleep. Patient can sleep comfortably at home and device can be collected next day to generate the report.
2. Level 2 or Polysomnography Test in India: This contains multiple channels in the form of electrodes and wires which gets connected to a centre unit . Technician will hook up the electrodes on different body parts i.e. Head, Chin , Chest etc and will ask patient to sleep. In majority of the cases technician’s stay is required to manage the device while patient is sleeping. Next day device will be taken back and report will be generated.
3. PAT ( Peripheral Arterial Technology) devices in India: Generally these devices are wearables( mainly on wrist, finger etc) and gets connected with mobile phone. Patient can get the autogenerated report on mobile phones.
Sleep test price in India is defined based on the machine/level of test, Locations, Facility at hospital etc . A tentative cost of Sleep Test in India can be –
Level 1 Polysomnography Test: INR 12000- 25000 which includes test cost and hospital room cost
Level 2 Polysomnography Test: INR 7000- 10000 which includes test cost and service charge
Level 3 or Apnealink Air Test: INR 2500 – 3500 which includes test cost and service charge
Level 4 Test: INR 1800 – 2500 which includes test cost and service charge
PAT Devices: INR 2000- 4000 which includes test cost and service charge
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