Telemedicine to diagnose and treat obstructive sleep apnoea
Written by:
Pulmonologist
Published: 14/04/2020
Edited by: Laura Burgess
Telemedicine, such as a remote medical consultation via video call, is the way forward in helping to diagnose, treat and monitor the progress of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.
Consultant respiratory physician Dr Muhammed Raashed successfully uses video calls for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnoea, which enables patients access to his medical assistance from their own home, without the need to visit the clinic. Here he explains how the process works.
How is sleep apnoea diagnosed?
Obstructive sleep apnoea is diagnosed by a combination of history, a few questionnaires and ultimately by a home sleep study.
How can you remotely treat obstructive sleep apnoea?
A comprehensive video consultation is followed by posting a sleep study kit and a ‘how to set up’ video clip is emailed to the patient. They watch the video and set up the kit overnight, remove it in the morning and post it back to me where I would then download the data.
Once the diagnosis is established, I explain the condition, send them information and then do a CPAP prescription. The machine is delivered to the patient's house and they are set up to use it with backup troubleshooting. I would then monitor the progress by a repeat consultation and the whole process takes a week.
How many sessions would be required?
Normally, there is an initial diagnostic consultation, a second session to explain the diagnosis, followed by another session to see the response and progress.
What are the benefits of using telemedicine for obstructive sleep apnoea?
People with sleep apnoea are often very sleepy (with an Epworth score >9/24) and as per DVLA instructions are unable to drive. Also, often they have to travel far distance and wait a long time to get a sleep study and treatment on the NHS.
Up to 20% of long-distance HGV drivers have OSA and they cannot drive. Waiting on the NHS costs a lot in their earnings. Telemedicine allows them to have a consultation, sleep study and treatment without ever setting their foot out of their home.
This is ideal for such patients and people who cannot make time for hospital visits. Since treatment makes such a huge difference to their quality of life, most find it all worthwhile.
How can someone organise to have this done with you?
They can contact me directly through my Top Doctors profile here.
Do not hesitate to book an appointment with Dr Raashed today if you would like to organise remote medical assistance for your sleep apnoea.