polysomnografiska

Polysomnography is a comprehensive sleep-study technique that records multiple physiological signals to evaluate sleep and diagnose sleep disorders. It typically includes electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor brain activity, electro-oculography (EOG) for eye movements, and electromyography (EMG) of the chin to assess muscle tone. Additional sensors measure heart rate, respiratory effort via belts around the chest and abdomen, airflow through nasal and oral sensors, oxygen saturation, snoring, body position, and sometimes leg movements. Recordings can be performed in a dedicated sleep laboratory or at home with portable equipment, with home studies often focused on detecting sleep-disordered breathing.

During a full-night study, technicians supervise to ensure data quality, and a sleep physician interprets the recordings according to standardized criteria such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) or ICSD-3 guidelines. Sleep is scored into stages (N1, N2, N3, REM) and wakefulness. Clinically relevant events include apneas and hypopneas, hypoventilation, desaturation, REM sleep behavior, periodic limb movements, and other parasomnias. The resulting report provides a diagnosis or severity classification (for example, sleep apnea severity) and recommendations for treatment.

The term polysomnography encompasses the practice of recording and interpreting these data. In Swedish contexts, the adjective polysomnografiska is used to describe studies or data. Limitations include first-night effects, artifacts, and variable access or cost. Ongoing advances include ambulatory monitoring and automated analysis, though expert interpretation remains essential for accurate clinical decisions.