Signal quality of home polygraphy in children and adolescents

Abstract

Aim: The aims of the study were to examine the signal quality (SQ) of home polygraphy (PG) in children and adolescents and to compare automatic and manual scoring of the PGs. Methods: Clinical Trials Registration: NCT04964830. Participants and caregivers were instructed to set up the equipment and perform home PGs themselves. The PGs were analysed according to SQ and their interpretability and differences in automatic vs. manual scoring regarding apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI), apnoea index (AI), hypopnoea index (HI) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were examined. Results: 54 healthy children aged 9–14 years participated in the study. 86% of the PGs were interpretable with mean SQ of 79.1% (CI 95%: 73.5%; 84.8%). Significant differences between the automatic and manual scoring were found for AHI, AI, HI and ODI (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Home PGs of children and adolescents are feasible to be performed with good SQ. Significantly higher markers of sleep-disordered breathing were achieved in the automatic scoring in comparison with the manual scoring.