Smart ring at home testing for sleep apnea

[bbridge_GA]

I had recently had a two night at home test using only a smart ring and an app. This was a retesting for a new machine. I had to wear it for 4 hours each night. It measures heart rate and blood oxygen and "peripheral artery tone". It is a device that can be purchased on Amazon for $175 dollars. Is this really a reliable and accurate way to test for sleep apnea? Are insurance companies and doctors really relying on this for diagnosis and prescribing machines? According to the test, I am cured which seems unlikely since I have had 3 overnight lab and titration studies in the past.

[ups4]

Oxygen levels aren't the only criteria when diagnosing sleep apnea, so I would say it's not a very reliable indicator for detecting sleep apnea.

[lazarus]

It could prove someone DOES need PAP.

It cannot prove someone DOESN'T need PAP.

[Jlfinkels]

For $175 you could have a sleep test done and know for sure, or continue with a non-medical grade device and continue guessing.

https://bit.ly/3gZFvFn

[dataq1]

What is sleep apnea? The cessation of breathing.
How does the body react to a cessation of breathing?

Blood oxygen levels begin to drop within seconds of breathing cessation.
But the body may also react by being aroused - that is the brain is "activated"
Some take the position that this brain activation is caused by falling oxygen levels.

IMO, if the scope of the testing is limited to cessation of breathing, oxygen desaturation is a good indicator.

OTOH, if the sleep study is examining overall quality of sleep, then other sensors might be applied (such as detectors for leg movement).
Or if the study is also trying to examine the reasons for cessation of breathing, then other sensors are necessary.

[dataq1]

https://bit.ly/3gZFvFn

I dont know, so I'm asking: what sensors are used by this SleepMedRX.com device?
It looks tiny. Fits on your finger tip (according to the picture)

[chunkyfrog]

Who is selling this ersatz "sleep test?"
Dr Oz?
I would most certainly not bet my life on it being accurate or reliable.

[Jlfinkels]

https://bit.ly/3gZFvFn

I dont know, so I'm asking: what sensors are used by this SleepMedRX.com device?
It looks tiny. Fits on your finger tip (according to the picture)

No idea mate. It’s from cpap.com, so best to ask them. I do not imagine it is as complete as one done in a sleep lab, but for those with no insurance or poor coverage, any reasonable sleep test seems better than nil.

[lynninnj]

https://bit.ly/3gZFvFn

I dont know, so I'm asking: what sensors are used by this SleepMedRX.com device?
It looks tiny. Fits on your finger tip (according to the picture)

looks bogus jmho

My home sleep study by sleep doc tested O2 levels and I believe heart rate and body position.

No idea mate. It’s from cpap.com, so best to ask them. I do not imagine it is as complete as one done in a sleep lab, but for those with no insurance or poor coverage, any reasonable sleep test seems better than nil.

[Jlfinkels]

looks bogus jmho

My home sleep study by sleep doc tested O2 levels and I believe heart rate and body position.

It was not too long ago that a home sleep test was considered not trustworthy. Yet, it is now used regularly to help people who for whatever personal reasons are uncomfortable with a lab sleep test, cannot afford it due to insurance or lack thereof, or sleep doctors who believe they are accurate enough for their needs .

Who would have ever imagined you could buy glasses or hearing aids over the internet, or a car, or a myriad of other things. The times they are a’changin’.

[jlsmithseven]

For $175 you could have a sleep test done and know for sure, or continue with a non-medical grade device and continue guessing.

https://bit.ly/3gZFvFn

My at home sleep test was cheaper than in lab. Cost $800.00

[bbridge_GA]

The test was ordered by the doctor and approved by insurance with a $175 deductible out-of-pocket expense. I found that the exact same ring is sold for $175 on Amazon.
https://us.amazon.com/Wellue-Monitor-Co ... 105&sr=8-6

I doubt insurance would pay for a CPAP based on the test from the ring, but that was the rationale the doctor gave me for ordering the ring test. I looked up info on it and it looks like it can confirm obstructive sleep apnea, but it cannot reliably rule it out. I am going to be really unhappy if the doctor says I don't need to continue with a CPAP based upon the ring test, which is what he was inferring. I have had the DME provider send him the downloaded data from my machine. He didn't ask for it before ordering the ring test. Seems like he should have...

[dataq1]

Who is selling this ersatz "sleep test?"
Dr Oz?
I would most certainly not bet my life on it being accurate or reliable.

From the sleepmdrx website:

Most recently we have introduced a completely disposable home sleep test that is the size of a small stamp that you wrap around your finger. No belts, no cannulas and no need to mail anything back!

Sounds similar to the OPs device

[Ray4852]

I had recently had a two night at home test using only a smart ring and an app. This was a retesting for a new machine. I had to wear it for 4 hours each night. It measures heart rate and blood oxygen and "peripheral artery tone". It is a device that can be purchased on Amazon for $175 dollars. Is this really a reliable and accurate way to test for sleep apnea? Are insurance companies and doctors really relying on this for diagnosis and prescribing machines? According to the test, I am cured which seems unlikely since I have had 3 overnight lab and titration studies in the past.

If you had 3 lab test, you have sleep apnea. I have moderate apnea. I went thru the same BS. my doctor wanted me to take one more lab test where they put the mask on and see what pressure worked best for me. I told my doctor. I'm all done with your lab test. what I did. went out and bought my own O2 ring. I have the lookee ring. right now they are on sale. you can get one from amazon. if you buy the ring. do your own home study for one month. the ring will tell you everything you need to know. what you need to look for. watch your O2 drops during the night. you want your oxygen to stay up in the middle 90s. a level of 90 is ok. when they start dropping below 90. you are starting to loose O2. when they drop lower down past 85 and into the 70. you have a problem. if this goes on for more than a month. contact your doctor. tell him about it. what he should do is schedule you for a blood test. have your hemoglobin and hematocrit test. if they come back not normal. you might need a little oxygen while you sleep. don't feel bad about it. a lot of people that have sleep apnea need a little oxygen. I need 2 liters of oxygen with my cpap. I feel like a new man with it. get the ring. don't be cheap. do your own home test.

[Janknitz]

Medicare and other insurers are accepting the data from some home testing devices that measure PAT along with blood oxygen, pulse monitoring, etc.. The technology is getting smaller and less expensive as time goes on--our hosts at cpap.com are offering a home sleep test with a tiny device that simply straps to one finger and uses PAT. So perhaps the ring you used has sufficient validation, at least for your insurer to be willing to pay for the testing, which is a major determining factor (as long as your insurer will also pay for the machine and supplies). Or is it being used to screen you for a more comprehensive test,

As a consumer, I'd want to know what the stats are for accuracy of that device. But in general OSA is pretty common and the diagnosis is straightforward. If the device can reliably determine cessation of breathing and degrees of oxygen desaturation, coupled with a physical examination to evaluate the airway patency and an epworth scale score, that should be sufficient. Titration can be done on an APAP machine.

The issue comes up that some sleep apnea conditions can get missed or misdiagnosed as simple OSA when more complex issues occur, but if a person thought to have simple OSA isn't getting the benefit of treatment, then more elaborate testing might be in order.

Personally, I was happy to have home testing with the watch pat device which was a home testing device that also used PAT. I don't think I ever would have tolerated an in-lab sleep test, and I would still be untreated today if that was the only way to get diagnosed. I thought they were going to push me into an in lab test way back when, and I was fully prepared to refuse. I don't know if I would still be alive today, because I was just not going to do that, PERIOD.

A lot of people come here questioning their sleep test results, whether they are fully wired up in lab setting or have a home test. Some of that may be legitimate concern, but more often it's truly denial. Especially if you doubt the results really indicate sleep apnea, you can insist on a more comprehensive validating test, but your insurer may not be willing to pay for it.