Getting More from the Sleep Recording

Sleep studies have typically followed criteria established many decades ago, but emerging technologies allow signal analyses that go far beyond the scoring rules for manual analysis of sleep recordings. These technologies may apply to the analysis of signals obtained in standard polysomnography in addition to novel signals more recently developed that provide both direct and indirect measures of sleep and breathing in the ambulatory setting. Automated analysis of signals such as electroencephalogram and oxygen saturation, in addition to heart rate and rhythm, provides a wealth of additional information on sleep and breathing disturbances and their potential for comorbidity.