Israeli scientists have invented an innovative method for diagnosing sleep apnea

In Israel, a technology based on artificial intelligence has been developed that accurately identifies all significant cases of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. It is expected to be implemented as an accessible mobile application that will allow individuals to self-diagnose this type of sleep disorder, which poses a serious health threat, and seek medical help.

Sleep apnea is a major problem. Not only because the person suffering from it disturbs their loved ones' sleep with loud snoring. It is characterized by temporary pauses or weakening of breathing during sleep, which occur every few minutes and can last more than ten seconds. The intake of oxygen into the body decreases, leading to damage to various cells, primarily heart and brain cells. The risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases increases, which can ultimately lead to a heart attack or stroke.

As a result of stress changes, sleep becomes superficial and does not provide full rest. During the day, a person suffering from sleep apnea often experiences severe drowsiness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating, and their work performance decreases.

Breathing disorders during sleep are usually found in adulthood – more often in men, people with significant obesity, and smokers. According to the World Health Organization, about 20% of the world's population lives with apnea. This condition is successfully treated today; however, many people are not even aware of their diagnosis, which prevents them from receiving the necessary medical assistance.

An international team of researchers led by scientists from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology has taken on this problem. They have done extensive work, resulting in a technology based on artificial intelligence that accurately diagnoses obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The details of the project and the main findings were shared by the scientists in the latest issue of the scientific journal EClinicalMedicine.

In creating the innovative technology developed by the leading specialist in bioengineering at the Technion, Joachim Behar, and his colleagues, data from nearly 900 adult residents of São Paulo, Brazil, were used. After processing this data, the artificial intelligence system successfully identified individuals with and without sleep apnea.

The diagnosis was made after summarizing the data obtained from the experiment participants that fall into the category of biological markers of sleep apnea, including blood oxygen saturation levels during sleep, age, height, weight, and neck circumference.

Currently, there are two main methods for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The first is polysomnography, during which specialists use monitoring equipment to observe the body's activity during sleep, determining the frequency and duration of breathing pauses. This is conducted in specialized sleep laboratories. The second method is pulse oximetry, which assesses blood oxygen saturation by measuring hemoglobin levels.

The artificial intelligence system was able to identify all clinical cases of moderate or severe sleep apnea. In comparison, a standardized questionnaire missed more than 15% of cases of severe breathing disorders during sleep. Pulse oximetry identified all severe cases but did not recognize cases of moderate severity.

The new technology, provisionally named OxyDOSA, is already preparing for clinical trials. "The method we developed is a reliable and effective way to detect sleep apnea syndrome in large groups of people," says Behar. "In the future, when we develop the corresponding mobile application, this technology will be available to anyone with smartwatches or bracelets equipped with a built-in oximeter, allowing them to conduct accurate self-assessment."