DiagnOSAS as a screeningstool for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the primary care setting

In obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep occur, ranging from five to more than thirty times per hour. OSAS is associated with complaints of fatigue and daytime sleepiness, which often results in dysfunction in social and professional live.
Furthermore, the risk of (traffic) accidents, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and dementia increases with severe OSAS (Apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) > 30). OSAS is diagnosed in hospitals or specialized sleep centres. By screening patients in the general practitioner clinic, patients can be referred more selective to the hospitals / sleep centres. It is expected that the diagnostics of OSAS will become easier, cheaper, more efficient and above all, better accessible due to shorter waiting lists.

By offering a screeningstool for OSAS in the first line (general practitioners), it is expected that diagnosing OSAS becomes easier, faster, cheaper, more efficient, patientfriendly, and is also accessible to a wider audience.

Having general practitioners use DiagnOSAS for research purposes, conducting the research, gathering data, analyzing data will cost an estimated 1 year (end date 01-03-2017).

Patients will fill in a short online questionnaire (25 questions). Furthermore, the overnight oxygen levels in the blood will be recorded non-invasive by continuous pulse-oximetry at home. Finally they fill in a feedback form of 5 questions.