(image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, May 26 (Korea Bizwire) — A recent study showed that if breathing sounds during sleep are recorded with a smartphone, it can help improve the accuracy of sleep apnea diagnosis.
The diagnosis of sleep apnea, in general, uses a standard polysomnography.
The individual undergoing the test stays overnight at a hospital and during their sleep, a variety of biometric signals such as breathing, heart rate and oxygen density are measured.
This test, however, is affected significantly by the level of fatigue on the day of the test, dietary habits, and the ratio of deep sleep. The high volatility that results, accordingly, is regarded as its biggest weakness.
To address such shortcomings, a research team from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital developed an algorithm technology that records an individual’s breathing sound during sleep with a smartphone, and uses it for the diagnosis of sleep apnea.
The research team said that it employed algorithm technology to analyze the data of 423 patients who took a standard polysomnography at the hospital’s sleep center during the period from 2015 to 2019, resulting in a high accuracy rate of 82 percent.
“Most of the microphones embedded in smartphones have a noise removal function, which makes them suitable for recording breathing sounds during sleep when placed bedside.” said Cho Sung-woo, a professor of otolaryngology at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
