Sleep apnea is one of the most underdiagnosed ailments in medicine, due in part to the fact that many patients simply are unwilling or unable to be tested in a sleep laboratory. Many patients readily admit feeling uncomfortable spending a night at a monitoring facility, hooked up to sensors and equipment while they sleep. Rather than endure this perceived hardship in an attempt to obtain a definitive diagnosis of sleep apnea that would then lead to treatment, many patients instead choose to continue life with sleep apnea. The good news is that WatchPAT has removed this patient hurdle and in doing so has changed the sleep apnea landscape forever without sacrificing diagnostic accuracy. All the patient has to do is slip WatchPAT on their wrist, apply the snore and body position sensors, and oximeter. WatchPAT technology avoids contact with the face and head, a major benefit (and large cause of study failure) when compared to other ambulatory devices. Thanks to Itamar Medical’s advanced technology, it is possible for patients to conduct self-testing in the comfort of their own bed. WatchPAT performs the following tasks: - Screen for sleep apnea: WatchPAT screens for sleep apnea in people who appear to be healthy.
- Diagnose sleep apnea: Validated results confirm RDI and AHI.
- Monitor treatment: Retesting with WatchPAT provides you with valuable information about whether treatment may need adjustment.
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