NC West Virginia News

West Virginia University researchers are advancing a sleep apnea detection device to be used at home, aiming to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of the condition. This initiative is supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant.

Dr. Sunil Sharma, N. Leroy Lapp Professor and division chief of the Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program in the WVU School of Medicine, secured the award after collaborating with other WVU researchers to develop prototypes and obtain a patent.

“It’s about taking technology from the lab to the bedside,” Sharma stated. “This grant will help us connect with people who have a high level of expertise and join their strengths with ours. We will work with experts in AI, software production and enhancement, industrial production, and technology and hardware enhancement.”

The NSF Innovation Corps program will enable collaboration among experts from WVU and other institutions.

The prototypes include a watch and a fingertip clip similar to a pulse oximeter that patients wear while sleeping at home. Both devices use artificial intelligence technology to measure and analyze data collected via an app on a smartphone or tablet.

“What the devices do is collect information from your bloodstream regarding the certain way the oxygen is delivered and circulated in the blood,” Sharma explained. “Based on those oxygen signals and the algorithms which we have fed in — the way we designed it and calibrated it — they can accurately reflect what may be happening in the body without having to go through very expensive testing.”

Sharma emphasized that results go beyond positive or negative; they also indicate disorder severity, helping determine whether patients should be treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or simple lifestyle changes.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by partial or complete airway collapse leading to decreased oxygen saturation. Symptoms include loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness, but many individuals are asymptomatic. Approximately 80% of OSA cases worldwide remain undiagnosed.

“A delayed diagnosis can lead to worsening of underlying comorbid conditions such as heart failure, stroke, and atrial fibrillation because OSA acts like fuel for other diseases,” Sharma said.

The development of this at-home device follows a five-year study conducted by Sharma and colleagues at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital. The study focused on screening hospitalized patients for general medical conditions and heart failure to determine if further testing for OSA was needed.

Patients diagnosed after additional testing received PAP therapy, instructed to use it for at least four hours nightly 70% of the time. Researchers found that non-adherent patients had significantly higher hospital readmissions and emergency room visits than those who adhered to therapy.

“The above data complimented by similar findings at other institutions strongly suggest that if we catch OSA earlier, the treatment may facilitate in controlling their comorbid conditions,” Sharma said.

Published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, this study also examined healthcare spending and hospital resources. Early detection led to lower costs for both patients and healthcare facilities while freeing up hospital beds for other conditions.

Sharma highlighted factors contributing to undetected disorders: limited availability of sleep physicians, testing facilities, low awareness, and associated patient costs.

“Sleep labs are so booked that sometimes it takes weeks to months to get an appointment. In that amount of time, they’re possibly seeing readmission to the hospital and significant escalation of their condition,” he noted.

At-home testing appeals more to patients reluctant about overnight monitoring in unfamiliar settings which could affect sleep quality. These devices may particularly benefit rural residents who face long travel distances or rely on family transportation.

Sharma hopes this study raises awareness about early detection's role in improving outcomes for patients with comorbid diseases while preventing more serious conditions from developing.