Bariatric Physicians • Why use Sleep Data’s Services?

Sleep Data has been performing home-based sleep studies for bariatric physicians and centers since 1995. We have more experience with home sleep apnea testing of bariatric patients than any other organization. Home-based sleep testing is now widely accepted in the medical and scientific communities. Veterans Affairs Hospitals, University of California Medical Centers, and Kaiser Permanente Hospitals across the country are utilizing home-based testing. Sleep Data has performed thousands of studies in all fifty states. Our portable recording system is the most validated and accurately measures the necessary physiological parameters to diagnose OSAS as determined by the Americany of Sleep Medicine (AASM)

Our sleep study protocols are used by several bariatric centers nationwide. Sleep Data’s business model allows testing of patients anywhere in the country in a matter of days. There are no start-up costs and your patients will have the testing performed in the comfort and privacy of their own home.

Our sleep study protocols are used by several bariatric centers nationwide. Sleep Data’s business model allows testing of patients anywhere in the country in a matter of days. There are no start-up costs and your patients will have the testing performed in the comfort and privacy of their own home.

“I felt very comfortable performing the test in my home. I would not be able to sleep somewhere else.” Bariatric surgical patient, Anchorage, AK

“This was the best medical experience I’ve had in my 56 years!”Bariatric surgical patient, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Why Bother Diagnosing Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)affects an estimated 20 million Americans and is associated with chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, heart failure, stroke, sexual dysfunction, and depression. Sleep fragmentation, which results from OSAS, can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, accidents, headaches, cognitive impairment, and loss of productivity. It has been estimated that OSAS remains undiagnosed in 82% of men and 93% of women with the condition (1). The costs to the health care system of undiagnosed and untreated OSAS are profound. Studies have shown that effectively diagnosing and treating OSAS, rather than dealing with the consequences of this chronic disease reduces overall health care costs (2,3).

Obesity is the single biggest risk factor for OSAS. Approximately two thirds of patients with OSAS are obese. Weight loss is associated with clinical improvement in OSAS as measured by a decrease in respiratory disturbance index(RDI). In fact weight loss can be curative. However, the relationship between weight loss and decreased RDI is not linear. Small amounts of weight loss may have a significant impact on RDI.

Most medical insurers and health plans cover sleep apnea studies. The diagnosis OSAS represents a severe co-morbidity of obesity and therefore, can aid in expediting insurance authorization for bariatric surgery or other therapies.

The accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of sleep apnea may help to reduce possible operative complications that bariatric patients may encounter. Furthermore, the presence of sleep apnea impacts on decision making during anesthesia and postoperative patient management. Studies have shown that morbidly obese patients with respiratory insufficiency have a higher surgical complication rate than those without.

“The medical community is understanding, more and more, the significance of sleep apnea. It poses a major health risk. home-based sleep studies have assisted us in obtaining insurance authorization”.

Alan Wittgrove, M.D. Bariatric Surgeon

“For patients suspected of having obstructive airflow, a preoperative sleep study can provide objective documentation of the clinical need for weight reduction surgery. These studies also represent a baseline for measuring post-surgical improvement.”

Leslie Jester, CRNP, Bariatric Nurse Practitioner

Sleep Data has been working very closely with Doctors Clark and Wittgrove of theAlvarado Center for Surgical Weight Controlfor several years. Sleep Data participated in a study of sixty of their bariatric patients. home-based studies were performed pre-surgery and at least three months post-surgery. We found that sleep apnea was completely resolved or was dramatically improved following weight reduction surgery

Additional studies have also demonstrated the dramatic improvement in OSAS possible following weight loss (3,4).

•Learn more about obesity.
•Learn more about bariatric physicians.
•Learn more about bariatric surgery.

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1. Kryger MH, Roos L, Delaive K, Walld R, Horrocks J. Utilization of healthcareservices in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep. 1996;19(9 supplement):S111-6.

2. Peker, Hedner, Johannsson, Bende. Reduced hospitalization with cardiovascular and pulmonary disease in obstructivesleep apnea patients on nasal CPAP treatment. Sleep. 1997; 20(8):645-53.

3. Charuzi I, Lavie P, Peiser J et al. Bariatric surgery in morbidly obese sleep-apnea patients: short and long term follow-up. Am J Clin Nutr 1992;55:594S-7S.

4. Sugerman HJ, Fairman RP, Sood RK et al. Long term effects of gastric surgery for treating respiratory insufficiency of obesity. Am J Clin Nutr 1992;55:597S-602S.