Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by repeated starts and stops in breathing during sleep. Other symptoms a person with sleep apnea might experience include insomnia, loud snoring or gasping, morning headache, a dry mouth, excessive daytime sleepiness, and irritability.

There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA). OSA, the more common form of sleep apnea, occurs when the throat muscles relax and obstruct the flow of air to the lungs. The cause of central sleep apnea is the brain’s failure to send the right signals to the muscles that regulate breathing.

Approximately 3% of adult Canadians have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and 19% are estimated to be at high risk for experiencing the condition. Several factors can increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea, such as obesity, cigarette smoking, and a family history of the disorder. Individuals with congestive heart failure are at higher risk for central sleep apnea, as are those who have had a stroke. Central sleep apnea is more common in men than it is in women, and both types of sleep apnea are understood to be more prevalent in older adults than in younger adults.

Left unaddressed, all forms of sleep apnea can lead to a range of serious health problems, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Sleep apnea must be diagnosed before it can be treated, and traditionally, the diagnostic process involves in-person visits to a sleep clinic. With the WatchPAT ONE disposable home sleep apnea test, reliable and simple sleep apnea testing can be carried out at home.

What is the WatchPAT ONE Disposable Home Sleep Apnea Test?

The WatchPAT ONE Home Sleep Apnea Test is a fully disposable, wearable unit that is clinically proven to detect all types of sleep apnea events. Without the need for a medical appointment, the device provides users with a detailed analysis of their sleep quality for the best possible diagnosis. Approved by Health Canada and the FDA, the WatchPAT ONE home sleep apnea test can deliver an in-depth understanding of sleep health over the course of a night.

How does the WatchPAT ONE home sleep apnea test work?

The WatchPAT ONE home sleep apnea test is worn as the user sleeps. The device collects information throughout the night via three points of contact and transmits seven channels of data (PAT signal, heart rate, oximetry, actigraphy, body position, snoring, and chest motion) to the cloud, which it connects to via a smartphone app. The WatchPAT ONE home sleep apnea test monitors, tracks, and reports on a number of metrics that are important to the diagnosis of sleep apnea: 

  • Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), which refers to the average number of apneas and hypopneas that take place per hour of sleep
  • Central AHI
  • Apnea episodes that occur throughout the night
  • Oxygen levels, with notable drops being recorded
  • Minimum, maximum, and mean pulse rate
  • Snoring statistics
  • Sleep staging, including sleep efficiency, sleep latency, and REM latency
  • Body position, including time spent in each position
  • Respiratory indices chart
  • AHI severity scale

The raw data from the home sleep apnea test is downloaded and automatically scored. The WatchPAT ONE then produces a comprehensive report that can be reviewed immediately by a clinician, with results accessed easily via the cloud.

Is the WatchPAT ONE home sleep apnea test accurate?

The WatchPAT ONE home sleep apnea test can identify all types of sleep apnea events. It contains a sophisticated Central PLUS Module which allows the device to detect central sleep apnea and percent of sleep time with Cheyne-Stokes respiration (a rare abnormal breathing pattern) with up to 95% accuracy. 

Using advanced actigraphy to differentiate between sleeping and waking periods, the WatchPAT ONE’s True Sleep Time technology reduces the risk of misdiagnosis and misclassification of sleep apnea by up to 20%, offering peace of mind and reliable results. Its three points of contact deliver a 98% study success rate without compromising diagnostic capability.

What are the benefits of testing for sleep apnea at home?

Typically, testing for sleep apnea requires individuals to attend medical appointments and travel to a sleep clinic to participate in an overnight sleep study. With the WatchPAT ONE home sleep apnea test, testing for sleep apnea can be carried out at home, with no need to schedule appointments or make in-person visits to a sleep clinic. Results become available as soon as the at-home sleep apnea test has been completed, allowing for a quick and reliable diagnosis.

Because the WatchPAT ONE home sleep apnea test is fully disposable, there is no need to organize return shipping for the device. No cleaning or charging is necessary, and the risk of infection is eliminated.

For individuals who live in areas with limited access to sleep clinics — or for those who need or prefer to test at home due to other personal circumstances — the WatchPAT ONE offers a trusted, simple, and user-friendly diagnostic solution for all types of sleep apnea.