Sleep apnea

Diagnostic examinations are usually carried out in primary health care. A referral to specialised medical care is made only if significant sleep apnea requiring treatment is diagnosed. 

More demanding studies, such as extensive sleep registration or tests measuring alertness or daytime fatigue, are centralized in HUS at the Sleep Apnea Clinic.

More demanding studies may be needed for the diagnosis, if the situation is not resolved with conventional studies, i.e., concise sleep polygraphy. Concise and extensive sleep studies can be conducted at home or in hospital.

A particularly challenging patient group consists of patients experiencing daytime fatigue and patients who need special attention due to their profession. 

The most common treatments for obstructive sleep apnea are weight control, cease of alcohol consumption and smoking, increasing physical activity, and continuous positive airway pressure breathing therapy (CPAP therapy) during sleep. 

CPAP therapy for obstructive sleep apnea can be started either in HUS or in outpatient health care in the locations that have a contract with HUS.  

In addition to the CPAP device, one mask, air hose and humidifier tank are handed over from the hospital once a year.