Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

What is a Sleep Study or Polysomnography?

• The goal of sleep apnea testing is to measure pauses in airflow during sleep.
• An In-lab sleep study includes multiple sensors that measure heart rate, brain activity, breathing effort, air flow, arm and leg movements, and oxygen levels. These measures are used to evaluate many aspects of breathing during sleep.  
• A home sleep study is a kit that is taken home and estimates sleep apnea severity.
• Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) is one measure of sleep apnea severity that is commonly used. It estimates the number of times per hour that airflow stops or is reduced. 
  • Normal: AHI < 5
  • Mild apnea: AHI 5-15
  • Moderate: AHI 15-30
  • Severe: AHI >30

Where are Sleep Studies Done?

Sleep Testing at UCSF is done through the Division of Sleep Medicine. We work closely with multiple sleep medicine colleagues who provide consultation, testing, and management of medical treatments for all forms of sleep apnea.

We partner with sleep labs across the San Francisco Bay Area. If you are interested in having a sleep study done closer to where you live, please contact us for a list of providers.