At-Home Sleep Studies

Portable monitoring system for at-home sleep studies
Portable monitoring system for at-home sleep studies

At-home sleep studies are a convenient, more cost-effective means for evaluating patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea, the most common sleep disorder. The test is performed in a patient's own bed and in familiar surroundings, reducing first night effect, a condition in which the sleep testing equipment and environment affects the patient’s sleep quality. It may also be easier for patients who are home-bound, elderly or require specialized care from a nurse or family member overnight to receive an at-home sleep test.

An at-home sleep study is not as comprehensive as an in-lab sleep study. It only measures heart rate, airflow, movement in the chest and abdomen, time spent snoring and sleep position.

How an At-Home Sleep Study Works

Patients who have a physician’s referral for an at-home sleep study will pick up a portable monitoring system from Brookings Health System’s Sleep Diagnostics Facility. Following step-by-step instructions, the patient will place two belts around their midsection, a clip on their finger and an air sensor on their nose prior to going to sleep. The patient will wear the monitoring system while sleeping in their own bed and return the monitor the next day to Brookings Health’s Sleep Diagnostics Facility. Trained polysomnography technologists will download the patient’s data and results will be sent to the patient’s physician.

Depending on the results from the in-home sleep study, a patient’s physician may either prescribe assistive sleep devices, such as CPAP, or recommend the patient for further in-lab sleep testing.

Want to learn more? Contact the Sleep Diagnostic Facility at (605) 696-8062.