07-09-2018, 11:13 AM
RE: New Resmed App
(07-09-2018, 08:16 AM)srcpt Wrote: Having had two lab based sleep studies, I seriously doubt their validity versus sleeping at home with no wires or tubes attached and no one leering at me through a camera.
I suppose you could be quite correct, but you comprise an n of only 1. When those doing the hard science start looking objectively at empirical data, the data tell them that polysomnography assessments are better than guessing and personal assessments. Even if the polysomnography points to OSA when the client hasn't slept well, or much at all, the PAP machine will tell the tale over the next several nights. If it records an acceptable AHI with settings between 6-14, for example, is that because the machine is also wrong? If the machine were set at 4 and 8, say, and recorded a very low AHI, it still might be the correct treatment....for you. If set that low and stated you had an AHI of 12, would it be mistaken, or only if it disagreed with the prescription? IOW, we look at what we have, assume that there is some measurable AHI, and we attempt a correction with PAP. Eventually, perhaps with some minor changes to the pressures, we'll get the AHI down to under 5, while many of us do much better.
Statistical validity is a measure of efficacy and predictability. So far, polysomnography assessments do far better across populations willing to submit to them, generally, than anecdotal evidence. Why? Because if done correctly by the technician, they offer more consistency and reliability up front across cases.