Can't get enough sleep?

It might be time to do a sleep study.

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It’s in songs, on the big screen, the subject of many articles, and it may even be invading your bed. Sleep (or lack thereof) can feel like the silent pandemic sneaking in and taking over — and not for the better. It’s even worse if you’re getting enough sleep but still struggling with excessive daytime sleepiness.

If you’ve tried all the tricks and tactics for a better night’s sleep and you’re still counting sheep or simply feeling exhausted, it might be time to dig deeper. What come next is easier than you think.

The what, why and how of a sleep study

What is a sleep study?

A sleep study, one of which is a polysomnography (PSG), in medical terms, is a medical test that analyses your sleep disorders, such as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), insomnia, Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), circadian rhythm disorders and even narcolepsy. In 2017, approximately one in five Australians were estimated to be affected by a major sleep disorder.¹

Eligible patients can access Medicare-funded sleep studies to clinically assess and diagnose sleep disorder, including OSA, which is believed to be the most prevalent sleep disorder worldwide.²

Why get tested?

Diagnosing the underlying cause of your sleep problems is essential. Why? Well, other than the immediate effects of excessive sleepiness and fatigue, sleep disorders may also contribute to other health conditions, including diabetes, obesity, mental health, and cardiovascular disease.³ Effective diagnosis and successful treatment of an underlying sleep disorder can reduce your symptoms and improve your quality and longevity of life.

How does a sleep study work?

Sleep tests can be completed at home (Home Sleep Tests or HSTs) or in a specialist sleep clinic or laboratory overnight. Some Home Sleep Tests require little technology, such as the Sunrise Sleep Test, a small TGA-approved device attached to your chin while sleeping.

At-home tests administered by a sleep clinic usually require you to visit the clinic to have monitoring leads attached. However, the sleep test itself is performed in your own bed. On the other hand, in-clinic sleep studies require you to stay overnight in the sleep clinic to be monitored.

While in-clinic sleep studies are seen as the gold standard, and test for the full spectrum of sleep disorders. At-home sleep tests have advanced to the point that they can now accurately indicate whether you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

Depending on the sleep study or test type, your respiratory muscle movements, blood oxygen levels, brain activity, heart rate, and breathing may be monitored.

Do you need a referral?

Whether you need a referral depends on the type of sleep study. Your first line of enquiry, an online quiz such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale or the STOP-Bang questionnaire, can be completed online without a referral and can tell you whether this is something to discuss with your GP.

Some at-home tests can be purchased and completed without a referral. However, you may want to discuss your choice of sleep test and the results with your doctor, as they can analyse test results and what steps should be taken next to give you a formal diagnosis. Laboratory tests and some at-home tests will require a referral.

What are the different types of sleep tests?

Sleep tests can be broken down into three types:

  • Level 1 — In clinic or laboratory sleep studies
    These are completed overnight at a sleep study clinic or laboratory, allowing comprehensive, in-depth data for complex cases. In-clinic sleep tests are not required for straightforward sleep issues. You will be monitored overnight by a sleep technician in the clinic environment who can ensure all the equipment works all night. You could have a lengthy wait time depending on how busy your sleep study clinic is. In-clinic sleep studies are covered by Medicare.

  • Level 2 — Home Sleep Study (HST) (Medicare approved)
    Level 2 home sleep studies are completed at home in your own bed and will record your sleep patterns in your natural environment. Because they are completed at home, the wait times are significantly reduced. You’ll need to go to the Sleep Clinic to be partially wired up, putting additional items before bed and then going back to the clinic the next day to remove them. However, as you are at home, any technical issues will not be corrected overnight, and you may need to complete the study again if issues occur. An at-home sleep study is unlikely to determine whether you have conditions like restless legs syndrome (RLS) or epilepsy. If specific criteria are met, Medicare will provide a rebate, but it’s best to check with your GP.

  • Level 3 & 4 — In-Home sleep studies available over the counter or online (Not rebated by Medicare)
    These studies are affordable and remove the need for a wait time. No GP referral or clinic visit is needed. They are purchased and posted directly to your home and set up by you. We recommend you discuss your choice of at-home sleep tests with your GP and consider what results you are looking for. Medicare does not cover these tests, and, in some instances, they may deliver limited clinical information.

Are in-home sleep studies effective?

In-home sleep studies or Level 3 and 4 sleep studies look at fewer parameters than Level 2 Home Sleep Studies or Level 1 In-clinic Sleep Studies. They are easily accessible from a variety of retailers in store and online. Each has its own sensitivity (when negative rules out a disease) and specify (when positive rules in a disease) for diagnosing sleep disordered breathing conditions. However, research recommends that if the home test shows a moderate to severe sleeping disorder, an in-clinic sleep test should be completed to refine the diagnosis.

If you have two or more diseases or medical conditions or struggle to set up the test at home, at-home sleep tests are not recommended.⁴ ⁵ Instead, it is recommended you are referred to a sleep disorder specialist to navigate the complexities of assessment better, and to identify if multiple diseases or conditions are present.⁶

Proven clinical accuracy in a home sleep test — the Sunrise Sleep Study kit

Thanks to new technology, the in-home sleep test has become much easier. A new clinically validated sleep test has entered the market. The Sunrise Home Sleep Test detects respiratory events based on the analysis of the trigeminal drive. In other words, this new technology measures the movements in the lower jaw (mandible) caused by the contraction of respiratory muscles and provides reliable and accurate information to analyse your sleep and breathing patterns. The device weighs in at just 3 grams, is TGA approved, and has 90% accuracy in accordance with PSG, according to clinical studies completed. The Sunrise Home Sleep Test is a simple and effective way to check if you have sleep apnea.

Don't let feeling tired become your normal

Modern technology and advances in medicine are paving the way to help you easily find out whether there is an underlying cause to that pesky exhaustion you just can’t beat. Start with a simple quiz that can be completed online, followed by a consultation with your GP and an effective in-home test, like the Sunrise Sleep Test, to identify what may be causing you to feel constantly tired. With a diagnosis, you’ll have steps you can take to regain your energy so you can enjoy life to the fullest.

¹Deloitte Access Economics (Deloitte), Exhibit 2b: Asleep on the Job: Costs of Inadequate Sleep in Australia, 2017, p. 19.
²https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/6ea49796-0272-4182-b5bd-b93445bd0f06/aihw-phe-294-Obstructive-sleep-apnoea-OSA.pdf.aspx?inline=true
³Sleep Health Foundation (SHF), Submission 54, p. 9.
⁴https://journals.lww.com/jcma/Fulltext/2022/07000/Comparison_of_a_home_sleep_test_with_in_laboratory.10.aspx
⁵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4739634/
⁶https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.825708/full

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