Validation of a portable monitoring device for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea: electrocardiogram-based cardiopulmonary coupling.

purposeWe aimed to evaluate the validity of the cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) device, a limited-channel portable monitoring device for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) screening in one single-center cohort, in particular in those with some cardiovascular diseases since the cardiopulmonary coupling might be different from those without.

methodsConsecutive patients referred to the sleep medical center for assessment of possible OSA were enrolled in this study. Patients were examined with standard polysomnography (PSG) and CPC evaluation simultaneously. The results of the two examinations were compared in all subjects and in those with or without cardiovascular abnormalities.

resultsA total of 179 subjects suspected with OSA were finally analyzed. According to OSA severity degree based on AHI, the area under ROC curve for the CPC device in the whole cohort patients was 0.79 (mild), 0.79 (moderate), and 0.86 (severe OSA), respectively (all p < 0.001). For patients with cardiovascular disease with different OSA severity, the area under the ROC curve was 0.86 (mild), 0.73 (moderate), and 0.83 (severe OSA), respectively (all p < 0.0001), and 0.74 (mild), 0.85 (moderate), and 0.91 (severe OSA), respectively in patients without cardiovascular disease (all p < 0.0001).

conclusionsThe overall performance of CPC technique was acceptable to assess OSA in subjects with clinical suspicion of OSA, and thus it might act as a fast tool to screen OSA patients. However, the sensitivity of CPC technology for patients with cardiovascular disease was relatively insufficient. Therefore, CPC technology should be carefully interpreted in OSA screening in those with cardiovascular disease.