Evaluation of the accuracy of SNAP technology sleep sonography in detecting obstructive sleep apnea in adults compared to standard polysomnography.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of snoring and apnea analysis by SNAP (SNAP Laboratories; Glenview, IL), a technology that uses snoring recorded by a home microphone system and nasal airflow, to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as well as determine its severity.

Methods: For all patients who had undergone a prior SNAP study and were referred to the Sleep Disorders Center of Lifespan Hospitals for polysomnography testing from January 2000 through December 2001, we compared the results of the SNAP study to standard polysomnography (polysomnography). The severity of each apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) [mild, moderate, or severe, as defined by the AHI Severity Task Force of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine] recorded by SNAP was compared to that of the polysomnography result.