Sleep Dysfunction in Women Workup

Updated: Jan 31, 2019
  • Author: Gila Hertz, PhD, ABSM; Chief Editor: Selim R Benbadis, MD  more...
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Workup

Approach Considerations

Polysomnography

Overnight sleep studies or polysomnograms may be done in sleep-disorder centers, at home, or as inpatient procedures. Indications include risk factors, symptoms or cardiovascular manifestations arising from sleep apnea, disorders of respiratory control, and chronic obstructive or restrictive lung disease.

Multiple Sleep Latency Test

The Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) is indicated in the assessment of excessive daytime sleepiness. It is performed following a supervised overnight polysomnogram. The presence of 2 or more sleep-onset REMs (SOREMs) in an MSLT following a normal polysomnographic study the night before supports a diagnosis of narcolepsy.

Sleep logs

While not technically a laboratory test, sleep logs are sleep-wake cycle diaries, generally kept for a 2-week period and correlated with the patient's subjective assessments of daytime alertness. These diaries can be particularly helpful in diagnosing circadian rhythm disorders.

Imaging studies

Imaging studies may be required in the case of patients with OSA and craniofacial dysmorphologies to evaluate potential surgical strategies (eg, jaw advancement). They also may be utilized in the workup of neurodegenerative disorders.